Savannah magazine January/February 2021 by Savannah Magazine

T H E FA M I L Y I S S U E

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Chicken paprikash casserole recipe on page 74

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TAILORED EDUCATION FOR KIDS

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Meet 3 amazing animal rescues

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Sharon is an active woman who enjoys baking cookies for her grandkids. But one morning she awoke to severe pain and numbness in her legs and lower abdomen. She was rushed to St. Joseph’s/Candler and cared for by Dr. Kristy Conlon and the vascular team.

“She had a life threatening blockage in her aorta that lead to ischemia of her legs. We performed a 2.5 hour surgery in a highly sophisticated hybrid operating room that allowed us to take X-rays in real-time to identify the blockage location.” A smooth operation and regimented recovery has led Sharon to have no more pain or numbness. Now, she’s happy to be back baking goodies for her grandkids.

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y

2 0 2 1

J J EREMIA H HU LL

T A S T E CONTENTS

49 FAMILY FIXER UPPER

A 1930s home gets a whole new look

A classic casserole, adapted

What happens when the empty nest fills back up? By Jessica Leigh Lebos Illustrations by Hannah Agosta

94 ANIMAL INSTINCT

Rescuing and rehoming animals is an act of pure love for these local organizations

By Caroline Hatchett Photography by Hipolito Torres

85 PLAY DATE

Combat screen time with camps, clinics and lessons for kids By Steven Alford

90 HITTING HOME

By Margaret Daniel Photography by Jeremiah Hull

67 ONE-PAN WONDERS

G IN A SOU LE

HIPOLITO TORRES

COU R TESY OF PERC

By Sarah Domet Photography by Gina Soule

1 09

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

COVID-19 has brought changes — and opportunities — in education By Jessica Lynn Curtis Illustrations by Sharna Fulton

ON TH E COVER

Chicken paprikash casserole Photo by Hipolito Torres

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

CONTENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

Editor’s letter

Get Social

BUZZ

New in 912

January/February Events

Old Savannah: Tapley’s Mercantile & Antiques

Giving Back: Greenbriar Children’s Center

STYLE

Little Luxuries

At Home: Family Fixer Upper

My Savannah: Sara Jane Stroupe

TASTE

B. Trapper Griffith

SVP Commercial Lending Trapper.Griffith@TCFederal.com

One-Pan Wonders

Chef Q&A: Melissa Wagstaff of The Little Crown by Pie Society

Cup of Excellence

BE WELL

Commercial lending tailored to

Beneath the Mask

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

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103

Vetting the Experts

115

School Smarts

SEEN

131

Plant Riverside District’s Christmas Market Kid’s Corner

133

Downtown Design District Holiday Walk

134

Hostess Provisions Presents: Make Savannah’s 2020 Holiday Fair

SALT OF THE CITY

136

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SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

Family Ties

D I S COVER THE C O U N T RY D AY DIFFERENCE The Savannah Country Day School

Our 2021-2022 admissions season is underway! Are you searching for the best ďŹ t for your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a school where your child will feel known, supported and positioned for success and happiness? Learn about the multitude of offerings and the transformative curriculum at Savannah Country Day by scheduling a private campus tour tailored to your families' needs. Contact Kim King, Assistant Director of Admissions, at 912.961.8700 or kiking@savcds.org to schedule your tour today!

Learn more about The Savannah Country Day School at savcds.org.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

ESTABLISHED MAY 1, 1990

Savannah magazine’s mission is to celebrate the new and enduring voices of our city’s culture, commerce and creative community. Elegant and relevant. Authentic and fun. That’s your Savannah, and this is your magazine. To subscribe and save up to 78 percent off the newsstand price, go to savannahmagazine .com or call 800.453.1049. For address changes and other concerns, contact savannahmag @emailcustomerservice.com.

My father and his sisters, Linda (infant) and Cheryl, on the steps of their Tybee Island home in 1952. Note Nana’s expert hand, helping to balance the baby.

Send pitches, ideas and feedback to editor@savannahmagazine.com. To advertise, download our media kit at savannahmagazine. com, email jane.townsend@ savannamagazine.com or call 912.652.0294.

AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT TO HER, I’m writing this brief note to kick off our annual Family Issue on what would’ve been my grandmother’s 100th birthday. Nana lived in Savannah — Tybee Island, more specifically — with her husband and three (eventually five) young children for a few years during the early 1950s. My aunt was born here, and my dad counts among his earliest memories sleeping on the porch of the scruffy Back River Beach fourplex they called home: “I slept under a pile of olive drab, scratchy wool army blankets,” he informs me via text message. He follows up with a smile emoji; the memories are pleasant, if itchy. My grandfather, a World War II veteran still with us at 97, inquires regularly about the city. Although he’s too frail to visit, he has a photographic memory and can, astonishingly, conjure up particular curves and turns along Victory Drive in his mind’s eye. He wonders aloud about restaurants that have long since closed, but that I am confident readers of a certain age could recall vividly. He asks most often and most plainly, “How’s Savannah?” as if it were a living, breathing person more than a place. Compared with Savannah’s centuries-old history, I’m hopelessly new here. But I choose to believe that my family’s idyllic years on Tybee afford me some sort of genetic predisposition to understanding this fascinating city. My job gives me a leg up, too, and it’s especially fitting that our January/February issue includes important, family-oriented stories of both past (see Sylvie Baggett’s dispatch on Greenbriar Children’s Center) and present (Jessica Lynn Curtis’ piece on schooling options is a must-read) from cover to cover.

Life of the

Party

A refined, outdoor roast (and toast) rings in everyone’s favorite time of year: oyster season

Photography by LA U RE N JO N E S / Styling by H O STE SS P RO VISIO N S / Catering by B LO C A L C ATE RIN G Floral arrangements by K ATO FLO RA L D E SIG N S / Location B E A U LIE U

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CORRECTION Sara Watson Editor

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

LA UR E N J ON ES

PETER MU RAY

1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, Georgia 31405; savannahmagazine.com

In “Life of the Party” (November/December 2020), all flatware, chairs and tables were supplied by Amazing Event Rentals.

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The Sweetest gifts for your Sweetheart! 14

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PUBLISHER

Anita Hagin EDITORIAL & DESIGN

Sara Watson Liz Gulick-Silvoy S O C I A L E D I T O R Sylvie Baggett G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R Britt Scott EDITOR

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Tina Battock Scott Ferguson D I R E C T O R O F M A N U FA C T U R I N G & P R O D U C T I O N Sherry Brown A C C O U N T I N G M A N A G E R Veronica Brooks C I R C U L AT I O N B U S I N E S S M A N A G E R Michelle Rowe PRESIDENT

V I C E P R E S I D E N T, F I N A N C E & O P E R AT I O N S

M O R R I S C O M M U N I CAT I O N S CHAIRMAN

William S. Morris III CEO

Craig S. Mitchell

ESTABLISHED MAY 1, 1990 Savannah magazine’s mission is to celebrate the new and enduring voices of our city’s culture, commerce and creative community. Elegant and relevant. Authentic and fun. That’s your Savannah, and this is your magazine. Subscribe: 800.453.1049 Address changes: savannahmag@emailcustomerservice.com Advertise: 912.652.0294

Carefully hand-picked gifts for the ones you love. COASTAL THEMED HOME DECOR & GIFT ITEMS

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A publication of Southeastern Newspapers Company LLC. The cover and contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Savannah magazine. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials. They will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Address letters and editorial contributions to Savannah magazine, 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405. Copyright 1990-2021 by Southeastern Newspapers Company LLC. All rights reserved. Savannah magazine (ISSN 10616748) is published bi-monthly with bonus issues in April, June and October for $19.95 per year by Southeastern Newspapers Company, LLC, trading as Savannah magazine, 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, Georgia 31405. Periodical postage paid at Savannah, Georgia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Savannah magazine, P.O. Box 37131, Boone, IA 50037-2131

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MEG A N SWA N N

CONTRIBUTORS

Hannah Agosta

Jeremiah Hull

Jessica Lynn Curtis

Caroline Hatchett

ILLUST RATO R

P H O T O GR APHER

WRITER

WRITER & ST YL IST

“Hitting Home,” page 90

“Family Fixer Upper,” page 49

“School of Thought,” page 109

“One-Pan Wonders,” page 67

Erica TimmonsAGENT YOURHerndon “GOOD NEIGHBOR”

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Gina Soule

Hipolito Torres

Sarah Domet

P H OT OG R AP H E R

P H O T OGRAPHER

WRITER

“Animal Instinct,” page 94

“One-Pan Wonders,” page 67

“Animal Instinct,” page 94

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JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

GET SOCIAL

FROM OUR READERS

Savannahians comprise a family all their own. NEXT UP: The Shop Local Issue. Show us your most fashionable finds for a chance to be featured in the March/April issue â&#x20AC;&#x201D; simply tag @savannahmagazine and use #savannahmagazine.

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P R E S E N T E D

B Y

S C A D

PERSONAL STYLE

“

I loved [SCAD's] combination of creative spaces and cutting-edge technology.” — Caroline McCoy, SCAD fashion graduate student

McCoy is currently channeling her colorful, whimsical style into women’s athletic apparel.

SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

A fashion graduate student makes her mark SINCE CHILDHOOD, Caroline McCoy has always loved dressing up and designing her own outfits. “When I was in kindergarten my teachers told my mom, ‘we can’t wait to see what Caroline wears tomorrow,’” McCoy recalls. Fast forward some 12 years, when McCoy pursued her dream of becoming a fashion designer at Savannah College of Art and Design. She toured the university as a high school senior, traveling to Savannah from Seneca, South Carolina, and, she says, she was instantly hooked. “I loved the combination of creative spaces and cutting-edge technology,” McCoy says. “There was whimsy and inspiration in the artwork all around us — not just from fashion design majors, but art from all majors: animators, interior designers, filmmakers and so on.” McCoy’s favorite part of her visit was seeing garments, sketches and swatches at Eckburg Hall, home to the SCAD School of Fashion. “I knew that I was meant to be there,” she says. She wasn’t the only one who felt that way. McCoy’s move to

Savannah became a family affair when her parents decided to tag along. Her mother even started a new career as a study abroad coordinator for SCAD. McCoy graduated in Spring 2020 with a B.F.A. in fashion. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve shown her senior collection at SCAD’s annual spring fashion show. The COVID-19 pandemic changed things, but SCAD still found a way to recognize her success. Over the summer McCoy received a call from SCAD asking if the school could borrow some of garments from her senior collection. A few weeks later, she logged on to a Zoom call and received a surprise — Kate Bosworth was on the line. Bosworth was in Los Angeles, modeling McCoy’s design, a pair of rainbow fringe pants paired with a yellow satin tunic top adorned with hand embellishments. “I had these grand ambitions to have a celebrity like Kate model my clothes,” McCoy says. “Now, I can say I achieved that high goal that I set for myself.” McCoy says Bosworth also shared words of encouragement

Photography courtesy of SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

P R E S E N T E D

B Y

S C A D

Behind the scenes of SCAD's Fashion in Frame

with her, pushing her to follow her dreams and chart new ones, too. (Currently, she’s pursuing a M.A. in fashion at SCAD, building on her B.F.A. to realize her passion of designing women’s athletic apparel and golf attire.) “Creativity cannot be constrained, even during a pandemic, as evidenced by our most recent fashion, accessories and jewelry design alumni,” says Michael Fink, dean of the SCAD School of Fashion. Just as SCAD facilitated that exciting Zoom call for McCoy, the school also put together a film called Fashion in Frame, highlighting handcrafted, exquisitely produced pieces from recent SCAD alumni all modeled by fashion inﬂuencers. McCoy’s colorful designs, unsurprisingly, made the cut. The film “heralds the evolution of the virtual fashion scene and is one of many new and unique channels through which SCAD promotes the work of its students and alumni,” says SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. Though McCoy’s own family now calls Savannah home, the school offers that same feeling of camaraderie and support. “I’ve been blessed with some of the best professors, counselors, mentors and peers,” she says. “They have always made me feel like family.”

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

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P R E S E N T E D

B Y

S C A D

PERSONAL STYLE

“

I loved [SCAD's] combination of creative spaces and cutting-edge technology.” — Caroline McCoy, SCAD fashion graduate student

McCoy is currently channeling her colorful, whimsical style into women’s athletic apparel.

SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

Photography courtesy of SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

P R E S E N T E D

B Y

S C A D

Behind the scenes of SCAD's Fashion in Frame

with her, pushing her to follow her dreams and chart new ones, too. (Currently, she’s pursuing a M.A. in fashion at SCAD, building on her B.F.A. to realize her passion of designing women’s athletic apparel and golf attire.) “Creativity cannot be constrained, even during a pandemic, as evidenced by our most recent fashion, accessories and jewelry design alumni,” says Michael Fink, dean of the SCAD School of Fashion. Just as SCAD facilitated that exciting Zoom call for McCoy, the school also put together a film called Fashion in Frame, highlighting handcrafted, exquisitely produced pieces from recent SCAD alumni all modeled by fashion influencers. McCoy’s colorful designs, unsurprisingly, made the cut. The film “heralds the evolution of the virtual fashion scene and is one of many new and unique channels through which SCAD promotes the work of its students and alumni,” says SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. Though McCoy’s own family now calls Savannah home, the school offers that same feeling of camaraderie and support. “I’ve been blessed with some of the best professors, counselors, mentors and peers,” she says. “They have always made me feel like family.”

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

TA S T E BUZZ

CO UR T E S Y OF G B L OBS T E R

S A V A N N A H

Lobster rolls from GB Lobster

New in 912

So long, 2020! Prime Liquor Store (5500 Abercorn St.) can help us drink to that with its variety of high-end bourbons and whiskeys from around the world … At GB Lobster (518 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.), the reviews speak for themselves: “I’m willing to go out on a limb and say this is

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

C OU R T E SY OF F R ON T DOOR P R ODU C E

BUZZ

Merchants on Bee

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

COU R TESY OF MERCHA N TS ON B EE

A new produce box promotes community

the best lobster roll south of the Mason–Dixon line.” … Indulge in the healing properties of the sea with Beachview Inn & Spa’s (1701 Butler Ave.) signature Tybee Salt Session — 45 minutes of soothing halotherapy will leave you coastally calm … Flock to Strangebird Savannah, a farm-to-airstream poultry palace on wheels. To see when they’re flying next, follow them on Instagram (@strangebird_savannah) … It’s always the season of the witch at Stonelord’s (415 Whitaker St.), an otherworldly boutique with an affinity for the dark arts — art exhibits, that is … Vibe check: Soul Waves Healing Arts Community Center (6512 White Bluff Road)

brings a variety of wellness practitioners, including life coaches,

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energy experts and nutritionists, under one roof to help you on your health journey … Calling all pickers! Merchants on Bee (2934 Bee Road) houses more than 100 vendors who specialize in all things antique, vintage and handmade … For luxe yet approachable interior design, head to Gaston Crue Lifestyle & Interiors (412 Whitaker St.), a full-service design firm committed to upholding your individual style … On a mission to rebalance the power between gallery and artist, Cleo the Gallery (2204 Skidaway Road) oﬀers a radically transparent opportunity for artists to exhibit their work … Think pink (and blue and yellow!) at The Printed Peach (417 Whitaker St.), Savannah’s premier boutique for Lilly Pulitzer apparel.

When the pandemic hit in March of last year, Brad Mathis and his business partner, Brad Hunter, recognized a need in the community. “I’ve sold produce my whole life,” Mathis says. “Why not deliver it straight to the consumer?” Front Door Produce packages Georgia-grown, in-season produce and schedules it for pick-up or delivery the very next day, sidestepping the usual road trips and pit stops that vegetables take on their route to the grocery store and ensuring absolute freshness. This past November, St. Joseph’s/Candler bought all 3,000 of its employees a box for Thanksgiving, marking Front Door Produce’s biggest sale to date as of press time. “It’s so exciting to be part of such a generous community,” Mathis says. He and Hunter also pay that generosity forward time and again: Prices for a box hover around the $20 range, and Front Door Produce prides itself on accessibility, often donating any unsold boxes to those in the community who need it most. With many at-risk Savannahians still staying home and avoiding grocery stores altogether, the importance of delivering fresh, healthy vegetables remains paramount. “To be able to safely deliver a produce box to an elderly woman’s front porch and watch her light up from my car is such an awesome feeling,” Mathis says. Georgia residents can schedule pickups in Brunswick, Douglas, Homerville, Tifton and, of course, Savannah. If you’re outside of Georgia, Front Door Produce recently launched a delivery service to much of the southeast. Find out more on their website, frontdoorproduce.com. — Sylvie Baggett

BUZZ

JANUARY EVENTS

DON’T FORGET

Dive in no matter where you are for this year’s Virtual Tybee Polar Plunge. Bonus: tag the Tybee Post Theater, @tybeepost, for a chance to be featured online.

12 | Savannah Music Festival tickets go on sale today — the fest has moved from March to May.

Healthy Savannah and Enmarket are partnering to bring health education right to your screen with their Encourage Health Live webinar. Sign up at healthysavannah.org/ encouragehealthlive.

22 | Sprucing up your space

this year? Don’t miss the Low Country Home & Garden Show at the Savannah Convention Center.

2 Roll out your mat for those New Year’s Resolutions — and New Yoga Now’s two-year anniversary party.

Log on to these ongoing online events in January and February — check their respective websites for the latest dates and times.

The Savannah Autism Conference 2021 webinar series explores how to make our community more inclusive and effective for those with autism. autism savannah.org

FEBRUARY EVENTS

1 Go for a walk or jog on the brand-new Truman Linear Park Trail in honor of American Heart Month.

It’s Groundhog’s Day! As long as we don’t repeat 2020...

14 Treat your sweethearts to a sugar rush with goodies from River Street Sweets, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen or Chocolat by Adam Turoni this Valentine’s Day.

savannahbook festival.org

15 | Double-check if you have the day oﬀ — today is President’s Day.

19 | Urban Hope’s 11th annual Chefs and

Chocolate may be virtual this year, but it’s still plenty sweet: chefs are hand-delivering meals, and proceeds help kids in need.

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Savannah Book Festival is going digital this year! Register online to attend virtual events and revisit any lectures you may have missed.

Raise your voice alongside the American Traditions Competition, held online only Feb. 9–19. americantraditions competition.com

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BUZZ

O L D S AVA N N A H

Modern Vintage A family-owned business charts a new course Written by TJ LAGGIS

IF YOU HAPPENED to be in or around Savannah between the 1970s and 1990s, you might remember a little grocery store by the name of Andy’s, on the corner of Montgomery Cross Road and Waters Avenue. If you’re familiar with the spot, you may also remember a teenage girl who would come around the store after school.

She’d spend hours by the butcher block with her high-school sweetheart as he chopped meat for his parent’s shop. Decades later, Andy’s doesn’t look quite the same as it used to. Grocery aisles have been replaced with dealer booths, food displays swapped for vintage furniture and stocked shelves exchanged for

Photography courtesy of TAPLEY‘S MERCANTILE & ANTIQUES

one-of-a-kind art and reclaimed treasures. But a piece — or rather, two people — still remains, tying the old Andy’s roots to its modern-day successor. Brenda and Robert Anderson, now married, were that young teenage couple hanging out in the back of Andy’s, which Robert’s parents used to run. Now,

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BUZZ

Tapley‘s has been a family affair since it was Andy‘s, a grocery store owned by Betty and Bobby Anderson, pictured at left.

“People want to go where somebody knows their name. And that relationship will sustain a business more than anything else.” — Brenda Anderson, owner

IN WITH THE OLD

Tapley's Mercantile & Antiques hosts a monthly, rotating pop-up at the front of its store, and its March partner will probably look familiar. Throughout March (National Reading Month), Savannah magazine will offer a host of collectible issues spanning back to 1990. It's no surprise that the city has grown and changed significantly over the past 30+ years — hairstyles, clothing and decor have changed, too! Some things, however, stay the same, like our ceaseless mission to celebrate the inimitable Savannah lifestyle. Can't find the issue you‘re after? Call 912.652.0293.

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they’ve transformed it into a business of their own: Tapley’s Mercantile & Antiques. The leap from local grocer to antique mall might seem puzzling, but for the Andersons it makes perfect sense. “That feeling of a hometown grocer isn’t what people are looking for anymore,” says Brenda, who also previously ran Smith Brothers Butcher Shop with Robert. But, ever the optimists, she and her husband felt “all this freedom to create,” she says. “We’re in a great location for antiques, vintage items and decor because we sit right between all the islands.” The Andersons pride themselves on having a beautiful collection of rare and exciting pieces of history at Tapley’s — whether at auctions, estate sales or through one of the dozens of antique dealers in their list of contacts, they’re always “picking,” trying to uncover that next big find. They believe, however, that the secret to their mounting success lies elsewhere. “Being a local, family-owned business makes a huge diﬀerence,” Brenda says. The Andersons, like Robert’s parents before them, have fostered a sense of community in their store. It’s a place that feels like

home, and where Brenda estimates she spends about half her time talking with people and building relationships. “People want to go where somebody knows their name. And that relationship will sustain a business more than anything else.” Tapley’s, however, like so many other businesses locally and across the country, hasn’t gone unscathed during the pandemic. The Andersons opened their doors to Savannah in February 2020 and were closed just one month later. They reopened in May and since then have been doing everything in their power to ensure that Tapley’s provides a clean, safe shopping environment where customers can feel comfortable while they wander among the booths. The Andersons have found that even when up against struggles and discouragement, the (vintage) glass is half full. “If you want to look at the good side of the situation that we’re in with the pandemic, I think coming out of this, we’re going to see a boomtown of imagination and creativity. We’re going to see families putting their heads together and doing things that will last for generations,” Brenda says. Just like Tapley’s itself.

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BUZZ

GIVING BACK

It Takes a Village Greenbriar Children’s Center nurtures kids and families Written by SYLVIE BAGGETT

IN THE EARLY 1940s, with World War II still in full swing, Savannahians did as they’ve often done and gathered together for the sake of a greater good. At the time, orphaned Black boys with nowhere else to go were sent to live at prison farms alongside convicts, while girls were sent to the Chatham County Protective Home. The measures weren’t meant to be punitive; rather, such facilities were deemed the only safe place for Black orphans at the time. Adaline Graham, a well-known philanthropist, recognized a dire need for better standards of care and, after her death, willed property and funds

to whoever could establish an orphanage for Black children in Savannah. In January 1943, five women from the Gamma Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first historically Black Greek-lettered sorority (the AKAs count Kamala Harris among their ranks), took up the mantle and began the journey of establishing Greenbriar Children’s Center. With the help of The Rev. Ralph Mark Gilbert of Savannah’s First African Baptist Church, they formed a coalition of local members — regardless of race, sex or socioeconomic status — and opened the center in 1949.

Archival photography courtesy of GREENBRIAR CHILDREN‘S CENTER

Greenbriar endures some seven decades later, where Gena Taylor currently serves as its executive director. Having lost both her parents by the time she was 10, Taylor empathizes deeply with the center’s history. “I could have been a resident of Greenbriar,” she says, “and had it not been for my grandparents, I would have been.” After her parents passed, there was an outpouring of love from those around her. “I was truly a village child; my community raised me. Being here at Greenbriar allows me to do the same thing for the children and families in this organization.” In 1964, the center began accepting

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BUZZ

Students learn about musical instruments, circa 1950. Below, a child relaxes at the center.

children of all races and continued to expand in the decades that followed. Today, Greenbriar operates two early childhood education and care facilities, an emergency shelter and family planning programs, providing everything from workshops on how to balance a budget to connecting individuals with resources that specialize in job training, often providing support for up to 50 families at once. “Our goal is to nurture children and strengthen families,” says Cherie Trice, director of development. “When you’re working as closely with the community as we are,” Trice adds, “you become passionate about the work right away.” Like everything and everyone else, Greenbriar has felt the repercussions of the pandemic. Its education facilities closed temporarily, and many members of the community who had historically supported

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Greenbriar soon sought out help themselves. “So many people reached out about our family preservation program because they didn’t know what to do, where to go or how to get the help that they needed,” Taylor explains, adding that the emergency shelter stayed open throughout 2020. It’s fitting, but not surprising, that the center operates like a family. “Everyone who works here feels responsible for the health and welfare of these children. We all support each other, no matter what program we’re assigned to.” With all that love, it’s not uncommon for former residents to stop by to say hello. In June 2015, a young man who had stayed at the emergency shelter as a boy before transitioning into the longterm residential program and then to the independent living program, showed up in his crisp United States Postal Service uniform, mail in hand. “That was such an emotional moment,” Taylor recalls. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.” That same year, the man worked with his coworkers at the post oﬃce to collect presents for children at Greenbriar — and delivered them himself on Christmas morning. “To know that you had an impact early on in that child’s life and this is the outcome? That’s how we know we’re on target with our mission,” Taylor says.

Two Greenbriar board members (top) and scenes from the center‘s grand opening in 1949

Martha Wright Wilson, a founding member of Greenbriar, served as president of the center's Board of Directors during its formative years.

Adaline Graham, a philanthropist who bequeathed funds and property to establish an orphanage for Black children in Savannah

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TA S T E STYLE S A V A N N A H

Little Luxuries With a new line just for kids and babies, Weezie Towels bets on bath time Written by SARA WATSON

Photography courtesy of MARY CATHERINE BROWNSFIELD

GROWNUPS WERE QUICK to embrace Savannah-based Weezie Towels for its sumptuous yet practical designs. Since the direct-to-consumer brand’s launch in 2018, products like Weezie’s makeup towels, cleverly rendered in deep, dark, stain-hiding blue and finished with cute embroidery, have been a near-instant hit and have been featured in publications from Apartment Therapy to Refinery29 to Architectural Digest. Now, kids have something to snuggle up to, too. Co-founders (and mothers) Liz Eichholz and Lindsey Johnson have applied the Weezie ethos — incorporating made-for-real-life details into upscale offerings — to Lil Weezie, a new range of bath linens designed for children and babies.

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STYLE

“The collection has been more than two years in the making,” Johnson says. “We dreamed of it even before launching the brand.” Beyond embodying a dream come true, Lil Weezie’s debut also concludes months of in-home product testing with kids and parents, including Johnson herself, who welcomed a daughter during the research and development phase. The resulting line, which features soft terry robes, hooded towels, washcloths and bibs, is available a la carte or in giftable packages ideal for birthdays and baby showers: choose from ready-to-go sets like the Kids’ Bath Bundle or the Baby Bath Bundle, both of which include a hooded towel and two washcloths. First-time parents will appreciate the Baby Shower Bundle, which tacks on a bib. “We’re excited to finally bring luxe to the littles,” Johnson says. Smart and snappy details come standard: the children’s robe features the same piped edges and front pockets that make the adult version so popular with an added interior tie “to keep the robe secure during wiggles” and an attached belt so nothing gets lost in the wash. The hooded towels feature hanging loops, and the bibs have easy-to-reach side snaps for adjustable sizing. Each Lil Weezie style is made from hypoallergenic, low-linting 100 percent organic cotton that is OEKO-TEK certified, meaning the cotton hasn’t been tested with any unnecessary chemicals or lead. Such specs are a part of every Weezie product, but they’re especially well suited to little ones, providing added peace of mind for parents. All Lil Weezie offerings — even the washcloths — can also be customized. Gingham piping is an especially sweet addition when paired with a child’s name or monogram in pastel shades of pink, blue or gray. The bath time struggle might still be real, but Lil Weezie helps make it softer and safer — and more stylish. weezietowels.com

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Co-founder Lindsey Johnson‘s daughter, Miller (Millie for short), helped inspire Lil Weezie’s kid-friendly details.

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Family Fixer Upper Two Savannah transplants pull off an impressive renovation in time for Christmas dinner Written by MARGARET DANIEL / Photography by JEREMIAH HULL

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STYLE

WHEN TAYLOR GERLINGER learned he would be stationed at Savannah’s Hunter Army Airfield, his mother, Eleanor Halff, jumped at the chance to help him find a new home in the Lowcountry. Owner of E.H. & Company, a San Antonio-based remodeling firm, Halff was looking for a project while Gerlinger was looking for a home to share with his fiancée, Nicole Carpenter, an actress from Atlanta. Each party found what they were after on the corner of Abercorn Street in Ardsley Park. Set back from the road under shady oak trees, the house charmed them with its history. Owned by just one family, the home’s interior sat largely untouched since its construction in 1937 — a family time capsule of sorts. Although this meant the house was full of picture molding and beautiful built-ins, the interior felt cramped; the existing floor plan consisted of a series of small, separated rooms with limited space

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to entertain visiting family and friends. So Halff set about giving the couple the house of their dreams, reconfiguring the floor plan and planning an extensive, two-story addition complete with a gracious kitchen and dining room on the ground floor and additional bedrooms above. There was just one catch: the house needed to be ready for Christmas, fewer than six months away. So, with Carpenter acting as the on-site project manager, Halff as decorator and Tracey Tollison, of Tollison and Co., as contractor, the team got to work. Avid cooks, Carpenter and Gerlinger began planning the kitchen first. “We were looking to get away from the typical white kitchen,” says Carpenter of the room’s rich color palette, which took cues from the island’s Carrara marble countertop. Its rich brown and gray-blue veining are picked up in the stained walnut and blue-painted cabinets, outfitted with sleek nickel hardware.

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STYLE

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LEFT: The homeowner’s friend created a custom, large-scale painting for the dining room. FAR LEFT: ”Looking to get away from a typical white kitchen,“ Halff, Gerlinger and Carpenter incorporated warm tones and textures.

“We were looking to get away from the typical white kitchen.” — Eleanor Halff, E.H. & Company

White brick and shiplap walls add texture and seamlessly connect the airy kitchen to the adjacent dining room. Here, black wishbone dining chairs anchored by a gorgeous burl wood table — a gift to the couple from Halff’s client who “wanted Taylor and Nicole to make memories” around it just as his family had — are accented by a massive abstract painting, a commission by one of Gerlinger’s childhood friends. The contemporary interior of the addition is contrasted by the adjoining living room with its smooth, plaster walls, original picture molding, bookcases and fireplace surround — Gerlinger’s favorite part of the house. “These details remind me of the family who lived here,” he says of the bookcases and fireplace, which Halff further emphasized by trimming with

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STYLE

BELOW: The renovation team uncovered vintage pennies inside the wall, which Halff framed and placed in the office.

additional molding around the existing woodwork and stone. Antique pieces from Round Top Antiques Show blend seamlessly with catalog items from West Elm and Serena & Lily. “I think it’s the mix that makes it interesting,” says Halff. The space seamlessly combines new and old, a reflection of Gerlinger’s modern style and Carpenter’s preference for traditional pieces. In need of a home office, Halff shrunk the original dining room, adding French doors and covering its walls in a handsome, felted Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. The extra space was given to the foyer, in which Halff carved out a niche (the perfect place for keys) and redesigned the powder room under the stairs. That powder room, by the way, despite the beauty of the entertaining spaces, is Halff’s favorite design moment in the house. A vibrant Hermès wallpaper in shades of green and orange covers the walls and offers a playful contrast to the black sink and layered glass sconces.

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Upstairs, a spacious master bedroom, decorated in relaxing neutral tones, leads into the jaw-dropping ensuite. Formerly a tiny, dated space, the bathroom now feels luxurious with veiny, white marble covering the countertop, floor, walk-in shower, freestanding soaking tub and chic double vanity. Even with all the updates and improvements, Halff emphasizes their commitment to the original details of the home. At Gerlinger’s request, one bathroom retained its original bathtub and black-and-white tiled floor, and, while columns were added on the ground level to create balance, the original front porch footprint was maintained, its decorative corbels now supporting the garage portico. Details decided and craftsmen working seamlessly on top of each other, the project came together without a hitch. “It felt like an HGTV show,” says the designer of the whirlwind,

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“As a mom, it’s been the most rewarding project ever.” — Eleanor Halff

ABOVE: A mixture of shiplap and brick walls add texture in the dining room. RIGHT: The living room features original picture molding dating back to 1937.

six-month renovation. The project wrapped just two days before Christmas with extended family rallying around Gerlinger and Carpenter to help the couple unpack boxes and even decorate a tree. “We had a full Christmas dinner at the dining room table,” Halff says. Just after the construction dust had settled, Ben Gerlinger, Taylor’s brother, discovered he was being transferred to Hunter Army Airfield, too. To Halff ’s delight, the house next door was on the market and in need of some love. When asked if she’s ready for this next challenge (it’s now in progress), she laughs, saying she’s delighted after how well things went with Taylor. “As a mom, it’s been the most rewarding project ever.”

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STYLE

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RIGHT: A guest room features statement wallpaper from St. Frank Textiles. BELOW: This guest bathroom includes a large, walk-in shower, while another retains its original 1930s tub and tile.

DETAILS*

Owners: Eleanor and Harry Halff / Taylor Gerlinger Year built: 1937 Year purchased: 2019 Square footage: 3,000 square feet Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: main house: 4 bed, 3.5 baths; carriage house: 1 bed, 1 bath

Interior designers: Eleanor Halff, Jodi Kennedy, Staci Peterson with E.H. & Company Project management: Nicole Carpenter with E.H. & Company Contractor/builder: Tracey Tollison with Tollison & Co

Time to complete renovation/ remodel: Six months

Paint/wallpaper: Sharpe Painting Inc., Mike Holcombe's Wallpaper

Architects/planners: Eleanor Halff with E.H. & Company

Windows/doors: Guido Building Materials

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Kitchen design: Eleanor Halff with E.H. & Company

Landscaper: Hester & Zipperer

Bath design: Eleanor Halff with E.H. & Company

Electrician: Joe Maxwell

Stone: Creative Stone Accessories Inc. Cabinetry: John O’Brien, Mike O’Brien, David Gonzales Lighting fixtures: Circa Lighting Plumbing fixtures: Sandpiper Supply Landscape design: Chris Zipperer with Hester & Zipperer

Carpenter: Tommy Odum, Jerry Odum Furniture: Vintage custom by John O’Brien, CB2, West Elm, Design Within Reach, Serena & Lily, McGee & Co. Appliances: Livingood’s Appliances & Bedding Art: Harry Halff with Harry Halff Fine Art, Jor Smith Michel, Colt Seager

*All details supplied by homeowners

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STYLE

7 a.m.: Not going to lie, our morning routine is hectic. In between dropping off my daughter, Hadley Kate, at Savannah Country Day School and son, Hayes, at his school, I have time to swing by Cutters Point Coffee Co. in Sandfly. Thank goodness for drive-through service. 9 a.m.: Once the kids are settled at school, I head to the shop. I love being there before it opens, taking my time to refresh displays and answer any emails or social media messages from the night before. I come from a long line of Steel Magnolias: my grandmother was the first female Under Secretary of the Treasury (she introduced the Susan B. Anthony coin) before later serving as president of the National Association of Bank Women, and my mother and sister are trailblazers, too. I opened the boutique when I was just 24 years old, before I was married or had kids. My approach to business — a decadelong commitment to top-notch customer service — fits right in with our family history. 12 p.m.: It’s so fun to see the area around Sara Jane

Children’s Boutique grow over the past 10 years. The Starland District has really boomed, meaning these days our staff doesn’t have to travel far to pick up some yummy local food for lunch. Take-out from Bull Street Taco, Green Truck Pub, Starland Cafe, Sly’s Sliders and Fries or even a bite at The Vault Kitchen & Market are all in our regular rotation.

3 p.m.: As a working mom, I’m thankful I have great

M Y S AVA N N A H

Sara Jane Stroupe The Sara Jane Children’s Boutique owner shares a day full of pint-sized fashion and family Photography by SHUMAN FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

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staff members, which allows me to do things like pick up my daughter from school and take her to Savannah Sharks Cheerleading and Tumbling. I also love picking up gifts from Emily McCarthy Shoppe, which is just down the street from the boutique.

5 p.m.: Once I’m home, I take our dog, Annabelle, for a walk. It’s also when I check in on my other passion — travel. I have a side business as a travel agent, so this is my time to keep up on the latest travel trends, explore new places and look for the best deals for my clients. 7 p.m.: I love to cook! My go-to dish is Vidalia onion chicken. If on the rare occasion we get to go out to dinner during the week, it’s a family-friendly restaurant like Jalapeños Mexican Grill or Your Pie in Sandfly. Bathtime and bedtime routines for the kids follow. 9 p.m.: My husband and I catch up on some of our

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Chicken poppy seed casserole, recipe on page 68

One-Pan Wonders From a Southern classic, many casseroles ï¬&#x201A;ow

Words and styling by CAROLINE HATCHETT / Photography by HIPOLITO TORRES

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WHEN I WAS growing up, my Mom would often cut up a whole chicken in the morning, plop it into a Crockpot with water and some aromatics and leave it to cook all day while she taught high school Spanish, drove me to dance class, shopped for provisions at Piggly Wiggly and went for a jog/gossip session with our next-door neighbor, Denise. Some evenings, that chicken and its broth would meet a bag of yellow Mahatma rice and peas, or maybe a frozen package of Mary Hill dumplings. But for a few years, Mom leaned hard into chicken poppy seed casserole. Her recipe came from Denise, who inherited it from a certain Aunt Ruby of Douglas, Georgia. I can imagine Ruby hauling hot dishes of chicken poppy seed casserole to every potluck, funeral and baby shower in town. And while other Southern cooks might add a clove of garlic, a dash of Worcestershire or a handful of Parmesan, Ruby made the purest of versions with just chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, poppy seeds, crushed Ritz crackers and an obscene amount of melted butter. Ruby and Mom understood the dish’s dump-and-bake brilliance. But there was a limit. At a certain point, my father gently asked Mom to lay off the chicken poppy seed casserole. I doubt he provided an alternative suggestion, but she listened, regardless: We ate it less and less.

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CHICKEN POPPY SEED CASSEROLE Serves 4

Chicken poppy seed casserole is, essentially, a quick version of old-fashioned chicken fricassée, a simmered, creamy poultry dish with as many variations as there are stars in the sky. To get your greens, add blanched spinach or broccoli.

3 c chopped, cooked chicken

8 oz sour cream

1 10.5-oz can cream of chicken soup

1 tbsp poppy seeds 1 sleeve buttery crackers, such as Ritz, crushed ¼ c butter, melted*

Heat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup and poppyseeds. Pour into a 8×8-inch casserole dish, top with cracker crumbs and drizzle butter over the crackers. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. To freeze, leave off the topping and cover the casserole with plastic wrap and foil. Defrost in the refrigerator for eight hours before adding the topping and baking. *Aunt Ruby would have poured ½ cup of butter on top of her casserole.

Chicken-chile casserole, recipe on page 74

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Last year, when the pandemic sapped the creativity from my cooking, I returned to chicken poppy seed casserole. It was as good as I remembered, but as a food writer, what struck me is how malleable the base recipe really is. The original casserole is essentially a mid-century cheat version of chicken fricassée, and through that lens, the world’s creamy, comforting chicken dishes — and there are many — inspired a whole new roster of weeknight meals. Building from a ratio of three cups chicken, eight ounces of sour cream and one can of cream of chicken soup, I made totally inauthentic (but totally delicious) casserole odes to Hungarian chicken paprikash, Mexican pollo en crema de poblano and Peruvian aji de gallina. I switched up toppings, spices, garnishes and starch accoutrement. I learned that, yes, you can eat a tortilla chip-topped casserole inside of a corn tortilla. In fact, you should! There are very few rules here. Cooks can adjust the chicken ratio or use a rotisserie bird. Go ahead and pour on Aunt Ruby-esque quantities of butter, add a handful of blanched spinach or broccoli or throw on some cheese. Double the recipe to feed a crowd, or freeze individual portions in ramekins. The idea is to make home-cooked dinners easier and fun — and a lot more interesting than Aunt Ruby could have ever imagined.

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CHICKEN-AJI AMARILLO CASSEROLE Serves 4

This casserole is a wink to aji de gallina, a Peruvian chicken stew that’s seasoned with mild aji amarillo peppers and traditionally served with potatoes, boiled eggs and black olives (try it with kalamata instead for a brinier flavor). You can buy aji amarillo paste online and in specialty markets.

3 c diced, cooked chicken

½ tsp ground cumin

8 oz sour cream

½ c grated Parmesan

1 10.5-oz can cream of chicken soup

4 tbsp aji amarillo paste

1 sleeve crushed saltine crackers

¼ c melted butter

Heat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, aji amarillo paste, cumin and Parmesan. Pour mixture into an 8×8-inch casserole dish, top with saltines and drizzle butter over the crackers. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

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Chicken paprikash casserole, recipe on page 74

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CHICKEN-CHILE CASSEROLE Serves 4

Inspired by Mexican pollo en crema de poblano, this casserole plays well with warmed corn tortillas and colorful garnishes like red onions, pickled jalapeños and cilantro for serving. 3 c chopped, cooked chicken 8 oz sour cream

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½ tsp granulated garlic ½ c chopped scallions 2 to 3 dashes hot sauce 2½ c crushed tortilla chips 1 c shredded Monterey jack cheese

Heat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, chiles, cumin, garlic, scallions and hot sauce. Pour into an 8×8-inch casserole dish, top with tortilla chips and cheese. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH CASSEROLE Serves 4

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Fresh, high-quality paprika is essential for Hungarian chicken paprikash — and this casserole version, too. Feel free to incorporate hot paprika or smoked paprika to suit your family’s taste, and serve with buttered egg noodles. 5 tbsp butter 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp tomato paste 3 c chopped, cooked chicken

8 oz sour cream 1 10.5-oz can cream of chicken soup 3 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika 2 c croutons or cubed stale bread

Heat oven to 375°F. In a sauté pan on medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and cook onions, stirring occasionally, until they just begin to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in tomato paste and cook 30 seconds more. In a large bowl, combine chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, onion-tomato mixture and paprika. Pour into an 8×8-inch casserole dish, scatter croutons on top and drizzle butter over croutons. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. RESIDENTIAL • BUSINESS • VACATION RENTAL

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Caroline Hatchett is a Georgia-raised food and drinks writer, who lives in New York City and hosts Cream of Caroline, the world’s only casserole lifestyle podcast.

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Melissa Wagstaff and her brother, Edward

CHEF Q&A

Royal Treatment M E L I S S A WA G S T A F F CO-OWNER OF THE LITTLE CROWN BY PIE SOCIETY Interview by SARA WATSON

SAVANNAH’S TIES TO GREAT BRITAIN stretch back 289 years, when the city became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia. The Wagstaff family, who relocated to Savannah from Staffordshire, England, in 2013, has seen substantial growth — and made a lasting impression — in a fraction of that time. “We opened our second Pie Society in City Market in 2014,” says co-owner Melissa Wagstaff (there’s the original shop in Pooler and

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a food truck stationed in Starland Yard once a week, too). “After our five-year anniversary at this location, we decided to make some changes and focus on creating a more unique, fun atmosphere.” Pie Society in downtown Savannah soon became The Little Crown by Pie Society, which opened last spring. Here, Wagstaff shares how the diminutive shop churns out award-winning pies, and how the addition of a true pub experience serves to gild the lily.

Photography courtesy of THE LITTLE CROWN BY PIE SOCIETY

ON CHANGING PERCEPTIONS

British cuisine does not have the best reputation in the U.S., and our aim is to change that. Our pies and dishes are a blend of old-school English recipes and more modern flavor concepts. My brother, Edward, makes all the food with his team of bakers, and they start work around 2 a.m. every day making pies from scratch by hand.

ON MODERNIZING THE BRITISH PUB EXPERIENCE

The Little Crown is the smallest pub in Georgia, maybe even in the U.S. — we haven’t checked! My partner, Josh, is a wonderful mixologist, so he manages our bar and cocktail menu, which features anything from Tiki classics to the best Pimm’s Cup you’ll ever try. There’s a heavy gin presence on the menu, and all our cocktails have fun names that link to British pop culture, like Dr. Who, James Bond and Harry Potter.

ON COZY CONFINES — AND THAT STRIKING EXTERIOR

Since the addition of the bar removed our regular seating space, we paneled a corridor through to the building’s atrium and took over two of the small artists’ studios back there. Most pubs in England were previously houses, so they often have little spaces like these. Each room has a theme: one is called The Conservatory and features hanging baskets and glass windows; the other is called The Snug, which is a small, cozy anteroom that some older pubs still have. Both dining spaces feature artwork by local artist Stephen Kasun, who had his gallery in one of the rooms. The exterior is a bold shade of Pie Society blue.

ON WORKING WITH FAMILY

My brother oversees food operations, but it doesn’t stop there. My sister, Emma,

manages the food truck, and I manage our Pooler and Savannah locations. We have a wholesale license to send frozen pies all over the country, and my brother’s fiancee, Linda, manages our shipping department. Our mum manages us all. We truly are a family business!

ON LOCAL LOVE

Savannah has such a European feel to it and is heavily linked to England historically. It also has an evolving food and drink scene, so The Little Crown, with its traditional meat pies and cocktails, fits in beautifully. COVID-19 was a totally unprecedented challenge we have been handling alongside everyone else. We had to close for a month after being open for just 12 days [in March 2020]. Since reopening we have had a brilliant response from locals. Long-time customers who used to stop by to pick up a pie now stay for a pint, too.

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Cup of Excellence A decade on, Perc Coﬀee keeps grinding Written by JAY LANKAU

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, musician Philip Brown packed up his family, moved from Athens, Georgia, to Savannah and started Perc Coffee in a 350-square-foot rented space. Now, Perc is arguably the oﬃcial coffee of the Hostess City. “One of the greatest things about Savannah is that from the very first day, I had amazing people who found me and were on ‘Team Perc,’” Brown recalls. “There were

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so many people in this town who bought into our success and helped, whether by buying a bag of coffee or helping me figure out a spreadsheet. Just all kinds of things.” He explains that coming into Savannah’s food scene in 2010 was pivotal. Many young chefs at the time were interested in using local products, while cafes like Butterhead Greens and Sammy Green’s were just getting started (both have since closed). The demand for local coffee was there — and Perc was perfect to fill it. Now, Perc is on menus at restaurants and cafes across the city, including Foxy Loxy, Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe, Fox & Fig Cafe, Big Bon Bodega and more, along with its headquarters on East Broad Street, where patrons can sip everything from classic drip coffee to nitro cold brew “all dang day.” A decade of expansion hasn’t been limited to Savannah, either. In August 2020, Perc opened a new location in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. Oversized glass windows fill the shop’s interior with natural light, but for now, window service and relaxed outdoor seating are the safest options. “[Opening a location in] Atlanta made all the sense in the world,” says Alan Fischer, Brown’s business partner. “In Savannah, people don’t come up to you if you’re wearing a Perc T-shirt, but people in Atlanta would stop us in the middle of dinner, like, ‘Oh my gosh, are you from Perc?’ That was so encouraging.” With Perc Atlanta, the launch of an instant coffee line and doubling the size of Perc Savannah’s operations (including adding a newer roaster), the business has undoubtedly grown, but Brown and Fischer say they never want to lose the close-knit, personable feeling that comes along with being a small business. They also don’t want to lose sight of the bottom line. “In our hearts, we’re just a company trying to constantly make good stuff and have a good time,” Brown says. It’s the type of buzz Savannahians — and now Atlantans — can get behind.

Photography courtesy of PERC COFFEE

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TA S T E BE WELL S A V A N N A H

Beneath the Mask Cosmetic procedures during the pandemic? Meet health’s most well-hidden trend Written by GRACIE WILLIAMS

FROM BREAD BAKING to curbside pickups, this pandemic has seen its fair share of trends that fall into the “too much time on my hands” category. But for the underground pandemic trend of plastic surgery, too much time has proven to be just what the doctor ordered. Invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures have become less taboo over the years, due in part to celebrity influencers — now much more accessible thanks to social media — as well as advances in the procedures themselves: many are less invasive, more inexpensive and more widely available than they used to be. Even so, it seems that people are reveling in the privacy that masks, social distancing and staying at home provide them when it comes to getting work done.

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BE WELL

Locally, Dr. Timothy Minton of Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery was blindsided by the spike in appointments when his practice opened back up (Minton paused all elective procedures for a few months last spring, focusing only on patients who required facial plastic surgery for medical reasons). “It was really a surprise to me,” he recalls. “I thought that there would be an immediate lockdown in the economy and that we would actually take a hit in our cosmetic business, but it was the exact opposite.” Minton initially believed the radical boom in surgical procedures was due to the backlog of patients. As increased demand holds steady, he’s developed a few interesting theories. “I’ve heard from patients, as far as facelifts and rhinoplasty, that Zoom had a lot to do with it, especially for older generations who weren’t necessarily used to selfies and seeing themselves on screen,” he explains. “It motivated them to get something done.” Along with the new digital mirror that Zoom calls provided older patients, Minton also thinks people were keen to use saved-up vacation funds that would have otherwise wasted away. “There were a lot of newer patients who came in from probably a number of factors, but one was diverting financial resources for things like travel,” Minton says. “Another was the ability to recover at home, which is something that’s being seen nationally, too.” Dr. Luke Curtsinger of Savannah Plastic Surgery believes that too much time at home has caused a rise in procedures. “People are home, entertaining less and socializing less, so they’re looking in the mirror and figuring out what they want to work on for home projects — including themselves,” Curtsinger says. When patients have plenty of downtime for healing and can wear a mask to cover any visible scars or bruises, the pre-COVID “social recovery” period isn’t a concern anymore. Take rhinoplasty,

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Minton says, which has a recovery period of about one to two weeks and has historically been popular among high school and college students during summer and winter breaks because of the built-in recovery time for bruising and swelling and for the plastic or metal stint placed on the nose to help set its shape after the procedure. With no school and no set schedules, rhinoplasty numbers have gone up exponentially in the “off-season.” Hair restoration, which requires about 10 days of recovery time, is another procedure that has grown in popularity while people (typically balding male patients) are able — and even encouraged — to stay home. That “social recovery” time needed for visible scabbing at the hair transplant site to heal is moot in the days of remote work and grocery deliveries. With a continual rise in procedures, local practices’ primary concerns are keeping their staff and patients as safe as possible. At Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery, when patients come into the mask-required office building, they are greeted by a nurse who takes their temperatures and questions them about potential COVID-19 symptoms and exposures. Thanks to the many precautions the practice has taken from the beginning, they have been able to handle the pressure and have had no known cases among patients or staff. Savannah Plastic Surgery, which shut down last April out of concern that there wouldn’t be any available hospital beds if they needed them, returned in May with many set precautions in place. The practice continues to push safety measures, such as social distancing in the waiting room, masks and temperature checks. “We are cautiously and safely proceeding in this new world and environment that we’re living in,” Curtsinger says, “but it’s been especially gratifying to take care of people [during COVID] because they are more grateful that they have the opportunity to do this, and more grateful that they have their health.”

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1 Savannah Square Drive Savannah, GA 31406 • 912-927-7550 www.SavannahSquareRetirement.com When 89 year-old Savannah Square laughs Dody, “But in the end he was right. resident Dorothy Madsen moved to the I do love it, and I couldn’t have asked for a Hostess City from Dubuque, Iowa this past better place to live.” December, she was understandably a bit Savannah Square’s amenities include apprehensive. “I had never been to Georgia, restaurant-style dining, a full-service beauty so I didn’t know what to expect. However, salon, clubhouse, fitness studio, library, and when my son moved here from Connecticut a 24-hour staff. Located just three miles from after he retired from his job, he didn’t want St. Joseph Candler Hospital, their midtown me to spend my winters in Iowa, so we began location provides convenient access to all the looking for a place here for me to live.” best dining, shopping and cultural attractions Although Dody (as she’s known) would that historic Savannah has to offer. Situated usually spend her winters in Arizona and on several acres of beautifully landscaped A Higher Standard ofaSenior Living Florida, she says she still longed for more grounds,on Savannah Square offers an Skidaway Island. active lifestyle. “I’m still a very active person, abundance of organized educational, social but I don’t play golf or bridge. After taking and recreational activities for all its seniors. If you’re looking independent assisted living look no a look at several places infor thethe area,best we then There living is also or laundry and housekeeping further. Thrive Skidaway has all the amenities, programs, and care that decided to take a look on at Savannah Square.” services available, and Savannah Square you deserve. Immediately Dody and her son Fred provides a convenient car service for its

You Deserve It.

wereFrom struckresident-led by the welcoming atmosphere days a week. “I love my and wellness programs,residents to our seven full-service bar and Bocce of the senior living community, neighbors andAnd all the here,”we're says Dody. Pickleball courts, this is which senior living at its finest. ofstaff course, taking all the offers elegant and comfortable incredibly accommodating precautions to bring inresidences new residents“Everyone safely. Soiscome experience all that our newly for seniors with a range of lifestyles and and makes you feel so welcome. In fact, the opened community has to offer! requirements. With their spacious cottages whole community feels like one big family and apartments, Savannah Square’s to me. Plus there are always events and independent living accommodations Contact us to schedule a tour.activities planned for us. It gives me such a are perfect for seniors on the go, but the feeling of warmth every time I walk through community also features Palmetto Inn, a the front doors, and I feel right at home.” personal care residence with an on-site Thrive on Skidaway | Now Open! Savannah Square is located at 1 Savannah health son told me that this GA is 31411 Square Dr. in Savannah, Georgia. For more 5 center. Lake “My Street | Savannah, a place that I was going to just love, so he information about availability, please contact 912.295.4220 | ThriveSL.com/Skidaway put down the deposit without telling me. He Kelli Hartley at (912) 921-8002 or (912) 927had already made up my mind, so to speak,” 7550 or by email at khartley@5ssl.com.

Simply The Best Savannah Square’s amenities include restaurant-style dining, a full-service beauty salon, clubhouse, fitness studio, library, and a 24-hour staff.

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Play Date Offset screen time with these in-real-life, outdoor activities just for kids Written by STEVEN ALFORD

Photography courtesy of THE FORD, THE LANDINGS, MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF and SAVANNAH QUARTERS

AFTER A TOPSY-TURVY YEAR, the kids are ready to get back outside. With 2021 comes the hope of a return to normalcy and more social activities on the horizon. From workshops and swimming lessons to ballet and golf, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty to do this spring and summer to keep kids active and away from the screens that came to define life in 2020. As area families look to enroll eager kids in extracurriculars, private communities, clubs, resorts and local businesses are gearing up for a return to a traditional social experience for children looking for fun outside of home.

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MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF Palmetto Bluff is home to a marina and nature preserve, both of which inform the kids’ programming at this resort and community set on 20,000 acres. “We have a number of experiential kid’s programs to encourage a love for the great outdoors and time spent together,” says Christine Wrobel, director of public relations and marketing. The Montage Merits program, complimentary to all Montage Palmetto Bluff resort guests, is one such experiential program designed for children of all ages, giving them an opportunity to make memories and enjoy the outdoors by earning 12 different take-home badges. Kids earn a Montage Merit pin or badge for each activity conquered — whether roasting a s’more, riding a horse, spotting a bald eagle or catching a fish, to name a few, Wrobel says. When kids complete all 12 Montage Merit activities, they receive a special prize and earn “Gilbert the Gator” status, letting everyone know they’re a true Lowcountry explorer. Montage Academy is another family-friendly program designed to offer students in-person activities beyond their virtual curriculum. Students can participate in a range of daily activities: crafts and science with the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy; epicurean adventures with the culinary team; physical education and sports; geocaching; scavenger hunts and more. “We hope to allow families to reconnect, recharge and create long-lasting memories through our programming,” Wrobel says. For more information, visit montagehotels.com/palmettobluff or call 843.706.6500 for the resort or 855.264.8705 for reservations.

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Photography courtesy of MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

SAVANNAH QUARTERS

THE FORD Set on 1,800 acres along the Ogeechee River, The Ford’s sprawling estate hosts an award-winning golf course, marina, equestrian barn, swimming pools and fitness facilities — as well as ample opportunities for member families and their guests to stay active and entertained, with camps and sports gearing up now for the warmer season. “Keeping an active lifestyle has never been more important than it has been in the past few months,” says Shannon GaNun, director of communications. “We offer engaging outdoor activities like swimming games and horseback riding clinics, that can be a refreshing change of pace from being stuck inside and in front of a screen.” The Ford also offers a kids’ nature camp, led by naturalist Brittany Dodge. The immediate goal is to get kids invested in the environment and wildlife around them at an early age. Long term, staff members say they hope the camp instills stewardship which children can continue on into adulthood. All of The Ford’s camps (there’s also golf, fishing and archery to choose from) are initially for members only, but if there are still spaces available, members are able to invite outside guests. “Resident members enjoy a true multigenerational membership with full privileges extended to parents, children and grandchildren,” GaNun says. Families should contact the club concierge for camp registration. For more information, visit fordplantation.com or call 912.250.1509.

Photography courtesy of THE FORD / SAVANNAH QUARTERS

At Savannah Quarters, family and fun go hand in hand. Youth activities include junior golf and tennis, art classes and even cooking classes. The community’s year-round programs aim to involve kids athletically and socially, says Hayley von Hollen, director of fun and social lifestyle (is there a more kid-friendly job title out there?). “We hope to provide families with fun safe options to get the kids out of the house and stay active,” von Hollen says. “We love our families, and the advantage of our programs is that children and parents can both enjoy The Club at Savannah Quarters. It’s a great way for kids to meet other children in their own age group and for parents to meet parents with like interests.” Most of Savannah Quarters’ camps are for members only who sign up through the member website. However, the Sailfish Swim Team is open to everyone — families can sign up by reaching out to the community’s recreation department. For more information about programs and amenities, visit savannahquarters.com or call 912.450.2300.

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Even More Kid-friendly Fun

From sailing lessons, to ballet, gymnastics or theater — there’s a host of exciting ways to keep your kids energized and entertained. • Savannah Country Club has select slots open to non-members for kids’ tennis lessons. • Keep kids en pointe at The Ballet School of Savannah, which also offers tap, jazz and other dance classes.

THE LANDINGS At The Landings on Skidaway Island, outdoor activities are a way of life. With access to six golf courses, five pools, dozens of tennis courts and a fitness center, families at this planned community are used to an active lifestyle. The Landings also hosts spring break and summer camps as well as Kids Night Out events (perfect for parents who want to enjoy a date night). For members of The Landings Club, spring is prime time to get outside and enjoy the coastal activities, says communications manager Christina Danos. “With a lot of local camps and programs not happening, we hope a perk of being a member of The Landings Club is that our tailor-made programming still happens, and is safe for everyone involved,” Danos says. All of the community’s spring events, summer camps and kid’s activities are open to The Landings Club members and their member-guests.

• Savannah Harbor Club doesn’t require membership and offers one-on-one golf lessons for kids. • Acting out is a good thing at Savannah Children’s Theatre. • Savannah Golf Club offers both golf and tennis lessons for members. • Sailing lessons are sure to make waves with kids at Savannah Sailing Center. • Tumbles and twirls! Kids will flip over Summit Gymnastics, which offers a safe and fun atmosphere for children of all ages.

For more information, visit landingsclub.com or call 912.598.8050

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Photography courtesy of THE LANDINGS

Discover Savannah’s FRIENDLIEST COMMUNITY

Welcome to Savannah Quarters®, where life is more thanks to endless possibilities, a stunning setting and neighbors who quickly become close friends.

BEAUTIFUL HOMES | OUTSTANDING AMENITIES | 12 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

New Homes from the $300s to $1 Million+ | New Models Now Open ASHWOOD FINE HOMES • D.R. HORTON • DREAM FINDERS HOMES • LOGAN HOMES PULTE HOMES • VILLAGE PARK HOMES • GRANT HOMES • TRANSCEND CUSTOM HOMES

SALES & INFORMATION CENTER OPEN DAILY | SAVANNAHQUARTERS.COM 100 BLUE MOON CROSSING, SUITE 114, POOLER, GA 31322 | 912.450.2300 ©2020 All rights reserved. Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. All rights in these materials are reserved. All products and company names marked as trademarked(™) or registered (®) are trademarks of their respective holders. Copying, reproduction and distribution of materials without prior written consent of Freehold Communities® is strictly prohibited. Obtain the property report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This information does not represent a specific offer of sale or solicitation to purchase property within Savannah Quarters. All JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21 89 information, plans, and pricing are subject to change without notice. Images do not reflect racial preference.

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HITTING HOME Jessica Leigh Lebos explores what happens when the empty nest ﬁlls up again Illustrations by HANNAH AGOSTA

BACK IN THE TAIL END OF 2019, I booked a trip for four on a Caribbean cruise. Freelance work had been lean until that autumn, when a windfall gig made up for the months spent twiddling my thumbs and refreshing my LinkedIn page. I decided a chunk of that paycheck would go toward a family trip, the first one in a long time that did not involve escaping a hurricane or road-tripping to a mountain cabin with two stinky dogs. As I entered my credit card number, I felt somewhat addled when I realized I was paying for four full-grown adults. This, it suddenly occurred to me, could be the last family trip the four of us might ever take. Our youngest was eyeballing her driver’s license, eager to explore the world, or at least Broughton Street, unsupervised. Our eldest was a sophomore at the University of Georgia, excited about the prospect of a summer internship in another state, perhaps even another country. After that, he’d be busy studying for upper-level classes and applying to medical schools thousands of miles away.

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“Then the world went wild... College students who thought they were swinging through town for spring break realized they would be wearing the same pair of pants for four months.”

Memories of just the four of us were falling farther behind in the rearview mirror: the long, lazy days making lopsided sandcastles on Tybee Beach; surprising the kids with a trip to Disney World after telling them we were just going to “test out” the new Truman Parkway; the time the minivan’s radiator cap exploded in a deep North Carolina holler, an issue my husband mitigated with a folded pair of underpants. I’d spent the last two years moping around my son’s empty corner of our nest, wondering if I should turn it into a craft studio as I refolded his old baby quilts and dusted oﬀ Harry Potter books. I missed him so, but I told myself to be practical: Children grow up and find their own lives. Best accept it and try to lure them back occasionally with adventures and treats. The cruise, which set sail in

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December 2019, was spectacular. We sunned ourselves on the lido deck and snorkeled in sparkling, turquoise waters. We snickered at our fellow cruisers’ fashion choices and celebrated the season each evening at the giant electric menorah near the atrium bar. The satisfaction of having our little family all together was worth every penny I lost in the casino slot machines. We returned to Savannah tan and happy, full of rum and gut-busting inside jokes about wearing cargo shorts to dinner. We all wandered back to our routines, and it was easier to watch my firstborn bounce back to Athens to bury himself in his studies (even if one afternoon I went into his room to see if my sewing table would fit and ended up arranging his stuﬀed animals into a cocktail party). Then, the world went wild. By the end of March 2020,

pandemic life separated every family into primal pods, isolating some and crowding others. Toilet paper panic and PPE shortages consumed us. Grandparents were cordoned oﬀ as if bubble-wrapped. College students who thought they were swinging through town for spring break realized they would be wearing the same pair of pants for four months. Everyone’s summer plans dissolved into goo. For our foursome, those wondrous first weeks of quarantine produced a tremendous amount of unexpected family time after our last cruise hurrah. The entire house morphed into a slapdash oﬃce where the kids virtually schooled themselves side-by-side on the couch like they were toddlers watching “Blue’s Clues.” We even reprised a few lopsided sandcastles once the beaches were back open. My mother-heart hadn’t felt so fulfilled since the two of them sang

SET THE TONE

If a young adult moves back home, there are a few ways to ease the transition, says Dr. Chad Brock, general psychiatrist and owner of Shrink Savannah. “I think it really comes down to mutual respect,” he says. “Parents should try to treat their grown child as an adult, and the young adult then has the responsibility of trying to be a good housemate.” Brock also suggests connecting over meals (he emphasizes that the cleanup shouldn’t fall on parents). Although moving back home has its challenges for parents and their grown children alike, Brock says it can be a good time for both parties to develop an adult relationship that they may not have had before. “The parents might realize they really like the young adult their child has become — and the child might come to realize that their parents are real people, too.”

songs in the bathtub and fell asleep in my arms. To stave oﬀ cabin fever, we conducted daily masked bike/ skateboard parades through Ardsley Park with our two rescue dogs, who had no idea why suddenly everyone was home all the time but couldn’t have been more thrilled about it. As the months dragged on, however, being together all the time began to chafe at everyone’s nerves. Why did the dishwasher look like it had been loaded by monkeys? Who ate the last chocolate chip cookie? How do you sleep with all the sheets bunched up in the corner, and when is the last time you washed them?! There were other challenges: my husband’s business ﬂooded in a freak storm, adding to the stress of closures and lack of work. My dear father passed away in Arizona in June after a long, non-COVID-related illness, and sitting shivah — the

Jewish mourning tradition — with our far-ﬂung family over Zoom did little to ease the grief. Add that to overburdened WiFi, dirty-sock farms under the coﬀee table and braving the grocery store for a week’s worth of food only to have it disappear in two days, and the domestic bliss began to fray like the hems of a pair of work-from-home sweatpants. When our son announced he would be returning to college to start the new semester and continue quarantining with his roommates, I felt sadness as our precious bubble time came to a close — and terror that even their careful planning could not keep away the virus. But I understood that navigating the “new normal” was going to be a long game, and no 20-year-old wants to play it indefinitely with his mommy peering over his shoulder. I was also relieved that I’d be able to finish my morning tea before someone started

asking me what was for dinner. COVID life helped me through the bittersweet inevitability that motherhood means moving on. Loosening the laces of a tight family bond aches, but there is heart-swelling joy in watching what our children will become as they find their own partners and move into their own careers and adventures. And I’ll admit to enjoying a quiet house again, especially now that it’s laden with a wealth of new memories that will last far longer than any fancy vacation. As we enter a new year, isolating at home has given way to a tentative normalcy, albeit still masked and distanced. The weird novelty of stocking up on groceries and skating on empty streets is fading into the past. The nest is half empty once again, our son’s room tidy and staying that way. Sometimes the dogs and I go in and mess up the bed, just to remember.

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ANIMAL INSTINCT Three area rescue organizations lead with steadfast heart — and hope

Written by SARAH DOMET

Photography by GINA SOULE

HOME ON THANKSGIVING nearly 22 years ago, Jennifer Smith refused to cook dinner until someone in her family helped her build a website for a nonprofit she was starting. Hunger set in. The website went up. By the time the turkey came out of the oven, the shingle for Noah’s Arks Rescue was digitally hung. Like most animal rescues, Noah’s Arks was built by Smith’s fierce passion for animals. Her entire life she’s rescued strays from the sides of roads or taken in dogs nobody wanted. Many of these dogs, to the loving protestations of Smith’s husband, wound up in their house. Their canine brood grew. And grew. And grew some more. When she brought home her eighth dog, a sweet blind Lab mix named Sammy, Smith realized she needed either a new house or a new plan.

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ALL ANIMALS PICTURED ARE FROM LOCAL RE SCUE S

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Then came Riley, a Yorkshire terrier who was ordered by a judge in South Carolina to be euthanized after his owner was sentenced for the crime of animal neglect. Riley didn’t have a voice in the matter, but Smith did, and she used it, loudly. “I’m not a go-away kind of person,” Smith says. She refused to let this canine victim become yet another sad statistic. She followed the case and advocated for Riley, who became the first dog officially rescued by Noah’s Arks. Noah’s Arks is a true rescue — a sanctuary — for dogs scheduled to be euthanized, for dogs who’ve been gravely injured or abused or who simply have no place left to go. Some, like Sammy, are blind. Others are missing limbs or are in critical condition due to grievous wounds or illness. A few of these dogs can be rehabilitated enough to be adopted out, but most stay on to live at Noah’s Arks in a state-of-the-art facility that has been rebuilt and redesigned for the comfort and purpose of these animals. “You close the doors, and you’re in a dog paradise. The outside world ceases to exist,” Smith says. Noah’s Arks’ small staff tends to each dog one-on-one, giving them medical care, play time, classical music and lots and lots of love. “We are their family,” Smith says. And Noah’s Arks is their home. Home. Perhaps this term has never meant more than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home is the place where we live, but, ideally, it’s also a space of comfort and safety. The poet Robert Frost famously said, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” For Noah’s Arks, home is not born of obligation, but of compassion. Compassion is at the heart of One Love Animal Rescue, too, which also serves neglected animals in the region. In December 2012 Karrie Bulski, a marine biologist, was helping her grandparents adopt a dog from a local shelter. The lines at the shelter were long, the wait times interminable. Bulski sat in the waiting area for hours, watching other families interested in adoption leave, frustrated by the lack of attention. Wanting to help, Bulski soon became a volunteer at the local animal control, where she met two other women who, together, recognized a community need for better programs to prevent the sky-high rates of euthanasia. “I grew up on a

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Dr. David and Stacey Sedory with their son, Evan, and two “foster fails,” a Staffordshire terrier named Miley and a Basset Hound/Lab mix named Chunk. The Sedorys regularly foster for One Love (they‘re currently fostering a puppy named Haven).

“You close the doors [at Noah’s Arks], and you’re in dog paradise. The outside world ceases to exist.” — Jennifer Smith, Noah’s Arks Rescue

farm,” says Bulski, “and have always had a deep love for animals and the relationships built with them.” One Love Animal Rescue was licensed in September 2013 and has been running at full tilt ever since. They’ve adopted or transported out more than 5,000 animals to date. One Love Animal Rescue takes in cats and dogs (and occasionally a tortoise, ferret, bunny or pig) from local kill shelters or from owners who are forced to surrender their pets. One Love, like Noah’s Arks, focuses on severe medical cases, broken bones, broken hearts. “If I see a place where I can make a

TO ADOP T, FOSTER OR DONATE, VISIT: noahs-arks.net oneloveanimalrescue.com • coastalpetrescue.org • •

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“A house is not a home without a pet. The joy of having a pet welcome you home each day is absolutely irreplaceable.” —Karrie Bulski, One Love Animal Rescue

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difference, I am pushed to try my best to help create manageable solutions for all the homeless animals in our community who need us,” Bulski says. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has been a uniquely difficult time for many who love animals. Families are struggling, not only with the effects of isolation, but also with job layoffs and fewer resources. Bulski notes a growing interest in pet adoptions — more than double, compared to similar summer months last year. Yet, despite these promising numbers, the challenges of our

“Take your time. Find the right match. This isn’t an impulse purchase, but a family member for life.” —Lisa Scarbrough, Coastal Pet Rescue

This dog was a long-time resident of one local shelter. Happy ending: he’s been adopted!

present moment remain. Recognizing the limitations of adoption and transport, One Love now runs Operation Pet Rescue, a community outreach program that provides free essential services, such as vaccines and spaying and neutering. Soon, they’ll be offering pet food to families in need through their food bank. “A house is not a home without a pet,” says Bulski. “The joy of having a pet welcome you home each day is absolutely irreplaceable.” Like Smith’s and Bulski’s experience, strays have always seemed to find Lisa Scarbrough, who grew up on Tybee Island in the ’90s surrounded by pets. She and her family, who run Captain Mike’s Dolphin Tours, constantly took in feral cats who showed up near the marina. They’d spay or neuter the animals, then, if they couldn’t find them a suitable home, allow them to live out their days lounging by the marina. In college, needy animals magically appeared on Scarbrough’s doorstep. In fact, she developed a reputation as “the woman who knows what to do with stray animals.” It was her vet, in fact, who suggested she start a nonprofit so she could use donations to help with the mounting bills. Young and optimistic, she did just that. On Feb. 5, 2003, Coastal Pet Rescue officially opened its doors. For Scarbrough, the role of Coastal Pet Rescue is more important now than ever. Although adoption numbers climbed during the first months of the pandemic, the summer gave way to more cases of neglect and owner surrender. Many families, struggling with job loss or moves that could not accommodate animals, were forced to abandon their pets. “When some consider adopting a pet, they think: ‘I want it now,’” Scarbrough says, something she calls Amazon Prime Syndrome. “Take your time. Find the right match. This isn’t an impulse purchase,” she says, “but a family member for life.” Jennifer Smith’s 10-page adoption application speaks to her own organization’s commitment to finding the right match, both for the animal and its potential owner. “It’s easier to get a home loan than to adopt at Noah’s Arks,” she says with a laugh — but not an apology. She wants to find an unconditionally loving environment for her rescues where they’ll thrive. “We want them to have the best life possible,” she says. Isn’t that what family should be about?

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Because pets are important members of our families Dignified pet loss services, including home removal and private cremation, from a name Savannah has trusted for over 130 years.

912.352.7200 PetsAtPeaceSAV.com

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Want to keep up with business news from around the state? Georgia Trend can deliver it to your inbox each morning, Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, just before that first cup of coffee. Sign up at georgiatrend.com/digital-subscribe Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast, simple and free. To advertise on Georgia Trend Daily, contact carolyn@georgiatrend.com 102

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S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

vetting the experts

Pets are treasured friends and family members — and we want to give them the best care possible. Meet some of the area’s most knowledgeable and personable veterinarians and specialists. P H O T O G R A P H Y BY S C O T T BAC O N, K AT I E I V E S & K AT I E M C G E E

BRIGDON ANIMAL HOSPITAL Hunter Brigdon, DVM page 103 COASTAL EMPIRE VETERINARY SURGERY Paul M. Shealy, DVM, MS, DACVS Marcus Bradbury, DVM page 104 COASTAL VETERINARY ONCOLOGY Andrew T. Daters, MS, DVM, ACVIM page 106 LIVE OAK VETERINARY SPECIALISTS Jason King, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), cVMA, cVPP Michael Cocchiaro, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) page 105

HUNTEr BRIGDON, DVM Brigdon Animal Hospital 11911 Middleground Road • 912.231.3615 brigdonanimalhospital.com

Education: University of Georgia; DVM, St. Matthews University You owe it to your pet to … have an annual exam. A common and preventable ailment is … dental disease. Routine dental cleanings help decrease some of the extractions that may occur if cleanings are postponed. Our recent innovation in animal medicine is … Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. At Brigdon Animal Hospital, we use Arthrex products, which allow us to offer first-class pain treatment and regenerative medicine. We are branching out to stem-cell therapy soon! My new favorite pet product is … MOVOFLEX. I feel like we are getting better results for joint support with this supplement than with glucosamine.

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COASTAL EMPIRE VETERINARY SURGERY Paul M. Shealy DVM, MS, DACVS Marcus Bradbury DVM, Practice Limited to Surgery 335 Stephenson Ave. 912.354.6681 vss.org • vss1@vss.org

Education: Shealy: BS, Clemson University; MS and DVM, Louisiana State University; Intern, Animal Medical Center; MS Residency, Auburn University; Bradbury: BS, University of the Cumberlands; DVM, Auburn University; Intern, Georgia Veterinary Specialist; Residency, Hope Veterinary Specialist Specialty Certification: Shealy: Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons; Bradbury: ACVS Board Qualified. We’re proud to announce … that we joined the BluePearl family of specialty and emergency hospitals. BluePearl is a well-known, respected team of more than 95 specialty and emergency hospitals with similar values and a mission to enrich lives through remarkable care for pets. In the coming months, we will begin transitioning to a new name, BluePearl Savannah. Although our name may be changing, our commitment to excellent medical care remains the same. A common and preventable pet ailment is … obesity. One of the best things an owner can do for his or her animal is keep them slim and trim. We are excited to utilize … 3D technology, which improves our diagnostic capabilities and surgical planning. With 3D reconstruction of CT images, we can create 3D prints of bones and organs for presurgical planning and produce intraoperative implants. We love practicing in Savannah because … pets are family here, and the pet-owning community appreciates the level of veterinary care available. You’d never guess that Dr. Shealy … attends blue grass music camps around the country for expert banjo instruction. Dr. Bradbury’s pet family includes … four French Bulldogs, two guinea pigs, a goldfish, tree frogs, a newt, a ball python and several chickens. We give back to the community by … assisting animal care groups and pet owners with costs for care when appropriate. 104

S A V A N N A H M A G A Z I N E . C O M ★ Special Advertising Section

Live Oak Veterinary Specialists Jason King, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), cVMA, cVPP Michael Cocchiaro DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

335 Stephenson Ave. 912.662.7544 liveoakvetneuro.com

What’s new at your practice? King: Quite a bit, actually! We’ve got an ongoing expansion on the building, and we’ve recently added cardiology care to our available services. Why add veterinary cardiology? King: It started when my wife and I adopted a pet with a known heart condition. In the end, we weren’t able to get him the help he needed, and he passed away.

Cocchiaro: That’s when we realized that there was a dire need for this service here in Savannah. We started brainstorming and came up with our current process to try and fill that need for all pets in the region. How did you two meet? King: We were residency mates at Davis and worked together at the same hospital afterward. Since then, we’ve just kept in touch. Cocchiaro: Can you believe it’s been more than 10 years since we finished residency? King: Ha! Yeah, we’re old and seasoned now! What do you do in your free time? Cocchiaro: My wife and I have our hands full with 5-year-old twins and a Brangus cattle farm back home in North Carolina.

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ANDREW T. DATERS, MS, DVM, ACVIM Coastal Veterinary Oncology

335 Stephenson Ave. 912.355.5791 cvo.vet

Education: MS, DVM, Louisiana State University Specialty Certification: Oncology, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine I wish more people … were aware of how rapidly veterinary oncology is evolving. Every year we increase our ability to understand, diagnose and treat canine and feline cancer. We are truly making a difference in extending your pet’s quality of life while they are being treated for what used to be considered devastating cancers. You owe it to your pet to … learn what cancer treatment options are available. For almost every situation, we can provide multiple treatment options. One recent innovation in veterinary oncology is … electrochemotherapy. We are excited to offer this minimally invasive treatment that has little to no side effects. I love practicing in Savannah because … my patient’s parents genuinely love their pets and are some of the most dedicated around. As pet owners, we are lucky to be surrounded by quality veterinary practices in the region. I am fortunate to partner with these veterinarians in their patients’ care and treatment of cancer. My pets … Pixie and Boots enjoy barking at their friends walking by – and love it when they stop in the yard to play. I chose oncology because … even though there are tough days, there are more days I give good news. I love helping improve the daily quality of life for my patients. We are an optimistic team that believes in health, healing and hope. When I’m not in the office, … I am pulling clays for my son’s target practice or on the sidelines of my daughter’s soccer and basketball games. 106

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DISCOVER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVANTAGE. The Savannah Chatham County Public School System provides a wide range of options to prepare students for college or a career. We are committed to providing high quality instruction to all students in a safe environment. From pre-kindergarten to graduating seniors, our students participate in online classes and in-person instruction. We feature Choice Programs that allow students to pursue career pathways as well as rigorous academics, while building life skills and work readiness. Through Choice Programs students experience Aviation, STEM Education, Engineering, Medical Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts and so much more! And our seniors have outpaced the state graduation rate for 6 years — nearly 90% high school graduation rate for SCCPSS students in 2020! When you’re ready to experience the #publicschooladvantage, contact the school of your choice for a tour — virtual or in-person!

VISIT SCCPSS.COM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHOICE PROGRAM 1 0 8 S A V A N N A H M A G A Z I N E . C O M ★ Special Advertising Section APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE.

IMPORTANT DATES February 1: Choice Application Window Opens February 19: Choice Applications Close March 10: Lottery Announcement

School of Thought COVID-19 has changed everything â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and education is no exception. How do parents decide what learning style is best for their kids? Written by JESSICA LYNN CURTIS / Illustrations by SHARNA FULTON

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“WE’RE IN THE SAME STORM, but not the same boat.” It’s a saying we’ve heard before, but it’s been especially resonant lately. COVID-19 has affected us all to some degree, but in tremendously different ways. Some have been able to relish the time spent nestled together with family or in their own little cocoons; others have been on the front lines, working tirelessly to save lives. Some have felt the mere inconvenience of having to do things differently, while many more have experienced the heartache of not being able to see their loved ones, the crisis of lost livelihoods and businesses or the devastating loss of beloved friends or family members. Education in the time of COVID has been a microcosm of the different ways people have weathered this storm. In Savannah alone, the experiences have been vast: Some families have been able to send their children back to school with confidence in their safety. Others have the grueling task of working full time from home while also homeschooling their children. Still others can’t send their children to school, but also can’t stay home with them. It’s a conundrum unlike anything we’ve seen before, but there’s one common thread: Everyone is doing their best. Below, local parents, educators and students share their own experiences, across a range of learning options.

HOMESCHOOLING KERRI MORAN’S THREE DAUGHTERS were students at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School when schools began shutting down last spring. For many, the exhaustion was just beginning. But 13-year-old Reise, a competitive dancer who pushes herself to do her best in all areas, began getting a full night’s sleep for the first time in a long time.

“With homeschool, you basically do your homework during class. I used to get home from dance and be done with dinner at 9 p.m., then maybe go to bed at 11 p.m. because I would have homework.” —Reise Moran, 13

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“Face masks have been required of all students beginning at age 4. That’s been our most important mitigation tactic, and based on all our research and the input of a panel of doctors we talk with on a weekly basis, that’s the most important thing any of us can do right now.”—Kef Wilson, head of school for Savannah Country Day “It freed her up to be a kid still,” Moran says. So when Reise approached her about homeschooling for the 2020–21 school year, Moran said yes. They found a program they liked called NorthStar Academy that allowed Reise to work on her own time. “Homeschooling has been a lot easier,” Reise shares. “With homeschool, you basically do your homework during class. I used to get home from dance and be done with dinner at 9 p.m., then maybe go to bed at 11 p.m. because I would have homework.” Reise also estimates she’s actually able to learn more compared with kids currently in school, who incur time-consuming (and potentially distracting) COVID precautions. “I’m lucky to get a lot more learning in.” After missing their friends through spring and summer, Moran’s other daughters, 10-year-old Jojo and 7-year-old Alannah returned to school. But Jojo, craving normalcy, discovered that nothing about school during COVID felt normal. Overwhelmed, she asked to homeschool as well. Moran ended up leaving the family’s insurance agency to focus on homeschooling her daughters. “I said, ‘I can’t do this! These girls need to be taught!’ It was hard,” she says, stressing her better appreciation for teachers and the difficult work it takes to educate a child.

FOR VANESSA PLATACIS, an artist and professor, the choice to keep her 8-year-old son home from a local private school was “heartbreaking,” but clear. “Too much was unknown about the virus at the time, and we were concerned about community spread and the ongoing uncertainty of the situation. Our main focus was to create a safe and stable routine for him.” While her son misses his friends, they have regular outdoor playdates and use their iPads to live chat and play video games with each other. And as a family, they are enjoying their time together. “The tragedy of this pandemic is compounded

by the enormous workload,” Platacis says. “[But] homeschooling and working from home has provided us with more family time than we have ever had otherwise.”

LANA SALTER, another working mom, has had a similar experience. Although her second grader ultimately returned to school at Tybee Island Maritime Academy, she made the decision — after much back and forth — for her middleschool-age children to stay home. So far, it’s been the right move. “We talk about it almost daily, how great it’s been to have the kids home with us, especially our eighth graders,” Salter says. “They’re growing up fast, and we would never have had this much time with them had they been in school. It will be hard to see them go back, I think.”

PRIVATE SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS have worked diligently to create safe learning spaces and to accommodate families’ different needs and decisions. “We spent all summer trying to determine if we were to open, what we would do to make it safe. We’ve learned things over time, and our procedures have evolved, but certain things have been constant,” says Kef Wilson, head of school for Savannah Country Day School. “Face masks have been required of all students beginning at age 4. That’s been our most important mitigation tactic, and based on all our research and the input of a panel of doctors we talk with on a weekly basis, that’s the most important thing any of us can do right now.” Morning screenings take place at SCDS before students leave their car, and renovations helped

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a student who may become quarantined, whatever the reason. “The teachers have definitely had much more work to accommodate all of these changes,” says Stuart Ann Goldberg, whose daughters attended SCDS virtually for three weeks during the birth of their baby brother. “For example, we had parentteacher conferences by Zoom, and [the girls’] teachers made individual slide shows of their work to be able to discuss and show. All the small things add up.” Wilson concurs. “Teachers are stressed out, there’s no doubt about it; it is a hard and stressful way to teach,” he says. “But they’re doing great.”

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

create larger classrooms better suited to social distancing. Lunchtime has also changed, since students would normally congregate en masse in a cafeteria, and masks can’t be worn while eating. Now, upper school students eat outside, while middle and lower school students eat in classrooms outfitted with desk shields. And thanks to a generous donor, the school was able to install a Global Plasma Solutions needlepoint bipolar ionization system to improve indoor air quality and, in theory, kill the virus. Even with safety protocols in place, Wilson says about 3 percent of SCDS students choose to attend school virtually. Virtual learning is also available when a student either tests positive or has been exposed to the coronavirus and has to quarantine (while the school has had positive cases, Wilson says there has been no transmission on campus). The options are helpful for students, but add another layer of complexity for teachers: even if they don’t have hybrid students, teachers still have to be prepared for

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ALL SAVANNAH-CHATHAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM students have been remote to some degree. Half of the students who have opted to return (and whose teachers have) are physically in school on Mondays and Tuesdays. The other half are in school Thursdays and Fridays. “Wednesday is an independent learning day,” explains Stacy Jennings, director of communications for SCCPSS. “It’s an instructional day where kids may have tutorials, group meetings or one-on-one instruction online with their teachers.” They also do deep cleaning on Wednesdays while no one is in school and have applied all the standard COVID safety protocols.

MEGHAN QUINLAN, who teaches English and dance at Sol C. Johnson High School and is currently working remotely, spoke to the different ways students are responding to the strange circumstances. While some prefer the independence and flexibility to complete work on their own terms, others are struggling with the lack of oversight and structure of being in a classroom, she says. That’s been exacerbated by the fact that many of Quinlan’s students are also working (sometimes during school hours) and taking care of others in their household. “Some students and parents are hard to get a hold of at all,” she says.

JENNIFER ALLARD is a single mother and a massage therapist whose son Wyatt, a seventh-grader at Coastal Middle School, attends in-person school on Thursday and Friday and is remote the rest of the week. “He wanted to go back to school because, you know, he’s a kid,” Allard says. Although Allard says her son is happy to have even limited socialization, it was easier for him when everything was virtual and all assignments were posted in one place. “Now, I’ll get an automated email saying he owes different things that he says he turned in.” Allard explains that the hybrid structure has had other discouraging ripple effects: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays “all feel like Saturdays to him,” she says, and “as the mom, he’s just not going to listen to me like he would a teacher.” “There’s a lot of frustration on all sides,” agrees Quinlan. “It's harder to get students engaged in the lessons, and there are so many distractions pulling students away from their schoolwork. The sheer amount of time spent staring at a screen is a strain for both students and teachers, and I think we all miss the fun of being in the classroom.” But there have been positive aspects to all the technology. “The opportunity to ask questions privately in Zoom chats has made some quieter students more vocal than ever before,” Quinlan says, adding that the access to technology has been a game-changer in terms of a students’ abilities to do research and writing on their own schedules. Of course, it’s tough to access technology without a device, but Jennings is happy to report that SCCPSS is nearing its goal of a one-to-one device-to-student ratio after the school board approved the purchase of 14,000 additional Google Chromebook laptops. Other blessings are evident, too: “Our superintendent, Dr. M. Ann Levett, likes to remind everyone to ‘unpack our patience.’ We’ve really seen the best of our school families in their ability to support one another. You start to understand the different challenges that some folks are facing, and I think that does help us become more compassionate and empathetic towards one another,” she says. “Everyone has risen to the occasion — and we’re really, really proud of our teachers.”

“There’s a lot of frustration on all sides. It’s harder to get students engaged in the lessons, and there are so many distractions pulling students away from their schoolwork. The sheer amount of time spent staring at a screen is a strain for both students and teachers, and I think we all miss the fun of being in the classroom.” —Meghan Quinlan, teacher at Sol C. Johnson High School

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Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics Changing Behavior. Changing Lives.

Dr. Cecelia Ribuffo, psychology fellow; Amanda Wadley, child and adolescent therapist; Dr. Kristen Hembree, pediatric psychologist and director of integrated care; Dr. Kristi Hofstadter-Duke, director and pediatric psychologist; Heather Myers, family therapist; Dr. Martha Hinchey, child and adolescent therapist

Are challenging behaviors interfering with your family life? Does anxiety keep your child from living the life they want? Would you like to help your child live up to their academic potential? We are here to help.

We partner with families to improve behavior, facilitate learning, and strengthen the parent-child relationship. We offer both comprehensive psychological evaluations and evidence-based behavior therapy.

Changing Behavior. Changing Lives.

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What families are saying:

•

Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics “has changed our family’s lives and added so much more peace and joy to our days together! We are so much better equipped to handle our children’s changing behaviors and finally found the tools we need to better enjoy each other!”

•

“I have my little boy back.”

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 912-436-6789.

310 Eisenhower Drive, Building 5 • savannahbehavioralpediatrics.com

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

SCHOOL SMARTS From AP and honors courses to championship athletic programs and STEM programs, Savannah’s public and private schools provide a variety of educational experiences rooted in excellence and integrity. Use this guide to our city’s best schools to find the right fit for your child. Benedictine College ....................................116 Blessed Sacrament Catholic School..............120 Chatham Academy at Royce.........................121 Hancock Day School.....................................118 Memorial Day School....................................122 Savannah Country Day School......................117 South University............................................119 St. James Catholic School ............................122

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BENEDICTINEHOOL C S Y R A T I L I M ays Forward!

Forward, Alw

6502 Seawright Drive 912.644.7000 thebc400.com Purpose: • We develop boys into men, and we have been doing it successfully for 118 years. With an enrollment of more than 400, more young men choose to attend Benedictine than any other private high school in the Coastal Empire. • For the past 34 years, our nationally recognized JROTC program has been in the top 20 percent in the nation and serves as a real-world leadership development program. • Our curriculum offers 43 AP and Honors courses. • BC earned the top rating in its accreditation review from the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

Character: • Our robust need-based financial aid program awards more than $1 million annually. • The class of 2020 completed more than 10,000 hours of community service during its four years at BC. • Graduates have attended prestigious universities like the Air Force Academy, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Naval Academy, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford and West Point.

Spirituality: • BC instills a faith-based education built upon the Benedictine principles of prayer, work and hospitality. • Our Campus Ministry program hosts special grade-level retreats to help students grow in their faith. • As a school, we pray three times each day, and we say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning.

Brotherhood: • Since 2012, BC has had the No. 1 boys’ athletics program in south Georgia and has won 11 state championships in baseball, clay target sports, football, lacrosse, Raider team, soccer and tennis. • The BC college-like alumni network connects and supports our graduates for life.

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• 70 percent of our faculty is male, 56 percent hold advanced degrees and 10 percent of the staff are BC graduates.

Savannah Country Day School Difference Country Day Discover the

824 Stillwood Drive 912.925.8800 savcds.org The Experience: • Our faculty, coupled with student advisers and counselors, work with students and parents to chart a path for individual student success. • Small student-to-teacher ratios foster individualized attention (10:1 in Lower School; 7:1 in Middle School; 6:1 in Upper School). • Competitive athletics program includes more than 50 teams in 12 sports. 11 alumni currently play a collegiate sport. Over 80 percent of Middle and Upper School students participate in athletics. • Renowned fine and performing arts program includes visual art, chorus, jazz band, theatre, photography, orchestra, ceramics, jewelry and technology-based digital art. • Our Learning Support Team of nine specialists provides one-on-one support for students with learning differences. • Beginning in ninth grade, the College Counseling Office works with families to navigate the college admissions process. • Clubs and activities include Quiz Bowl, Mock Trial, Fencing, Math Club, Robotics and more. • One of four member schools in Georgia in Global Online Academy, a consortium that provides students with more than 45 additional course offerings, including Game Design, Bioethics, Business Problem Solving and more.

The Result: • Niche.com ranked SCDS the No. 1 K-12 school in Savannah, as well as the No. 1 College Prep School and the No.1 STEM High School. • During the past six years, our graduates have been accepted by more than 100 colleges and universities, including Princeton, Cornell, Georgetown, NYU, Stanford, Tufts, UVA, UNC, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. • SCDS has sent more students to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech than any other school in Savannah. • Once in college, our students consistently outperform their peers from other area schools. • Our seniors average almost $5 million in scholarships — in addition to HOPE. S p e c i a l A d v e r ti s i n g S e c ti o n ★ J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1

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hancock d ay S c h o o l Fly w ... Wings to Roots to Gro

6600 Howard Foss Drive 912.351.4500 hancockdayschool.org The Hancock Day School Experience: • Hancock offers students an educational experience unlike any other in the Savannah area, with a challenging curriculum that prepares students to lead, both in the classroom and in life. • Small classes, dedicated faculty and numerous opportunities for independent inquiry develop students into lifelong learners. • A wide range of extracurricular activities engage students in mind and body in a safe, nurturing campus.

Hancock Day School Seeks: • To enroll qualified students entering pre-K through eighth grade. • Our students are inquisitive, strongly motivated and highly committed to working through challenges and opportunities.

Learn More About Us: • We’re happy to answer your questions and arrange a tour of our campus. Please call Director of Admissions Cindy Drew at 912.351.4500 or email cdrew@hancockdayschool.org. We look forward to getting to know your family and showing you why Hancock gives you “Roots to Grow … Wings to Fly.”

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Y T I S R E V I N U SOUTH righter Future

ction for a B

The Right Dire

709 Mall Blvd. 912.201.8000 southuniversity.edu/savannah Our Mission: • A part of Savannah for more than 120 years, South University takes our goal to be a good local partner and to support our school systems and students on the pathway to graduation seriously. Our goal is to help you to build practical, in-demand skills for pursuing and growing your career.

What Makes Us Different: • South University now offers a new Coastal Empire High School Grant for all eligible graduates to receive help with their tuition and fees to make higher education more accessible right here in Savannah. “It is important now more than ever that we think about how to make the transition from high school to higher education as smooth as we can,” says Valarie Trimarchi, president of South University – Savannah. “The Coastal Empire is a fabulous area to stay, learn, work and grow. It just makes sense to invest in your future.”

What We Offer: • Discover an extensive program in areas like business, public health, psychology, nursing, healthcare and more. • Take advantage of flexible learning options including evening, weekend, virtual and online courses. • Learn and grow in a welcoming environment with supportive faculty and staff who provide one-on-one attention and mentorship from enrollment through to graduation.

Contact Us: • Contact the admissions team at South University – Savannah to learn more about our programs and your financial aid options, including the Coastal Empire High School Grant. Get started today, call us at 912.201.8000 or visit us online at southuniversity.edu/savannah.

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t n e m a r c a S Blessed l o o h c S c i l o Cath 1003 E. Victory Drive 912.356.6987 bss-savannah.org Our Mission: Rooted in faith and committed to academic excellence, the community of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School prepares and empowers children to lead, love and serve God, the Church and the world.

Why Choose Blessed Sacrament? • Family Atmosphere: Nurturing environment, supportive teachers, and involved parents • Tradition: Established in 1939, we are the oldest Catholic school still operating in the Savannah Deanery. • Facilities: New regulation-sized gym, Media/ Technology Lab, Broadcast News Center, Science Lab, Art Room, and Cafeteria/Kitchen • Student Leadership: Stephen Covey’s “Leader in Me” process is taught PreK-8. • Extended Day: Before/after-school childcare program • Specials: Art, Music, Spanish, PE, Media, Technology • Technology: Chromebooks (5-8); iPads (PreK-4); and SMART Boards and IPEVO cameras in every classroom • Cutting-edge Computer Programs: Google Classroom, Seesaw and i-Ready • Individual Student Needs: Flexible grouping and two resource assistants — a Learning Resource Specialist in both lower and upper schools for enrichment and remediation • Athletic Programs: We promote skill development and healthy competition in volleyball, football, cheerleading, basketball, golf, and cross country.

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y m e d a c A m Chatha At Royce

children education of e th in g in liz ia es 1-12. ly school spec D from grad Savannah’s on ning disabilities and ADH lear with specific

4 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd. 912.354.4047 chathamacademy.com We’re at the Top of the Class in: • Offering individualized education to children with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Addressing students’ areas of weakness and building upon their strengths • Raising self-esteem

We’re Proud of Our Students for: • Learning to handle change and accept new challenges

Our Learning Environment is: • Individualized and structured — we match our expectations to each student and teach them according to their learning style so they know what is expected • One where our teachers make every child feel appreciated

Our Parents Get an “A” for: • Supporting teachers and students to ensure a successful school year for their children

When Choosing a School, Ask: • How will this school help my child reach his or her potential?

Our Mission is to Teach: • In a way that is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of children with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and similar learning differences

We Teach for the Future by: • Teaching self-advocacy skills, which empower our students to accept who they are, recognize their strengths and weaknesses and gain the ability to plan a path for success

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S T . JA M E S L O O H C S C I L O H T CA l Blue Ribbon

2018 Nationa

School

8412 Whitefield Avenue 912.355.3132 stjameschargers.com

6500 Habersham St. 912.352.4535 memorialdayschool.com

About Us:

Our Mission:

Founded in 1956, St. James Catholic School is a Christ-centered community inspired by the charism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters that prepares students for a life of learning as disciples of Christ.

Memorial Day School endeavors to develop the talents and potential of each student through an educational program that promotes spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth. We seek to prepare each student for the diverse challenges and opportunities of higher education and for responsible citizenship in a democratic society in a rapidly changing world.

What Makes Us Different: We are one of 49 private schools to receive the 2018 National Blue Ribbon Award for scoring in the top 15 percent in the nation in both math and reading.

Why Choose Memorial Day School:

What We Offer:

• Challenging curriculum

• Accredited through AdvancED/Cognia

• Christian environment

• Challenging academics

• Individual attention

• Orton-Gillingham-certified teachers for K-3

• Small class size

• Specials: Spanish, Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer and Library

• Family atmosphere

• Advanced Technology: Mac lab, Science lab, iPad and Laptop carts and interactive SMART Boards in every classroom

• Various student activities including literary club

• Support Team: Nurse, Learning Support, and Speech Specialists and Counselor • Early Learning Center for 1-, 2- and 3- year-olds (For more information, call 912.355.1523.) • Strong athletics program

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• Competitive athletic opportunities

Open House: • 2-4 p.m. January 10 • Please call Director of Admissions Jamie Lane at 912.352.4535 to reserve your time slot.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ** ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (P re K–5)

Rice Creek (3–8)

100 Mullberry Ave., Port Wentworth, 31407

912.395.4100

912.395.3680

Savannah Classical Academy (Charter, K–12)

705 E. Anderson St., 31401

912.395.4041

1804 Stratford St., 31401

912.395.5300

Butler*

ADDRESS

PHONE

1909 Cynthia St., 31415

912.395.2525

MIDDLE SCHOOLS (GRADES 6–8)

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter*

301 Buckhalter Road, 31405

912.395.4070

Coastal

4595 U.S. Hwy. 80 E., 31410

912.395.3950

DeRenne

1009 Clinch St., 31405

912.395.5900

Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey Jr. School*

400 East Broad St., 31401

912.395.5500

Hubert

768 Grant St., 31401

912.395.5235

Mercer

5330 Montgomery St., 31405

912.395.6700

Gadsden*

919 May St., 31415

912.395.5940

Myers

2025 E. 52nd St., 31404

912.395.6600

Garden City

4037 Kessler Ave., Garden City, 31408

912.395.6820

Oglethorpe Charter

7202 Central Ave., 31406

912.395.5075

Gould*

4910 Pineland Drive, 31405

912.395.5400

Southwest

6030 Ogeechee Road, 31419

912.395.3540

Haven*

5111 Dillon Ave., 31405

912.395.6501

STEM Academy at Bartlett

207 Montgomery Cross Road, 31406

912.395.3500

Heard*

414 Lee Blvd., 31405

912.395.6630

West Chatham

912.395.3650

Hodge*

975 Clinch St., 31405

912.395.5200

800 Pine Barren Road Pooler, 31322

May Howard*

115 Wilmington Island Road, 31410

912.395.3925

HIGH SCHOOLS (GRADES 9–12)

ADDRESS

PHONE

Largo–Tibet*

430 Tibet Ave., 31406

912.395.3450

Beach

3001 Hopkins St., 31405

912.395.5330

School of Humanities at Juliette Low*

15 Blue Ridge Ave., 31404

912.395.6380

Groves

201 Rommel Ave., Garden City, 31408

912.395.2520

Marshpoint*

135 Whitemarsh Island Road, 31410

912.395.4000

Islands

70 Whitemarsh Island Road, 31410

912.395.2000

Pooler*

308 Holly Ave., Pooler, 31322

912.395.3625

Jenkins

1800 E. DeRenne Ave., 31406

912.395.6300

Port Wentworth*

912.395.6742

Johnson

3012 Sunset Blvd., 31404

912.395.6400

(PreK–2)

507 S. Coastal Hwy., Port Wentworth, 31407

New Hampstead

912.395.6789

Pulaski*

1001 Tibet Ave., 31419

912.395.6466

2451 Little Neck Road, Bloomingdale, 31302

Shuman

415 Goebel Ave., 31404

912.395.4500

Savannah Arts Academy

500 Washington Ave., 31405

912.395.5000

Jacob G. Smith*

210 Lamara Drive, 31405

912.395.6530

Savannah Early College

400 Pennsylvania Ave., 31404

912.395.2535

Southwest*

6020 Ogeechee Road, 31419

912.395.3301

School of Liberal Studies 400 Pennsylvania Ave., 31404 at Savannah High

912.395.5050

Susie King Taylor Community School

1709 Bull St., 31401

912.395.4200

Windsor Forest*

12419 Largo Drive, 31419

912.395.3400

Woodville Tompkins*

151 Coach Joe Turner St., 31408

912.395.6750

Tybee Maritime Academy (Charter)

714 Lovell Ave. Tybee Island, 31328

912.395.4060

OTHER EDUCATIONAL CENTERS

ADDRESS

PHONE

West Chatham*

820 Pine Barren Road Pooler, 31322

912.395.3600

21st Century Learning Centers (2–12)

402 Market St., 31408

912.395.5686

Building Bridges Academy MS

3609 Hopkins St., 31406

912.395.6780

Building Bridges Academy HS

402 Market St., 31408

912.395.2540

Career Technical Education

402 Market St., 31408

912.395.6765

ADDRESS

PHONE

Bloomingdale*

101 E. Main St., Bloomingdale, 31302

Brock*

(Charter, K–5)

White Bluff*

9902 White Bluff Road, 31405

912.395.3325

Williams

1150 Wheaton St., 31404

912.395.2500

Windsor Forest*

414 Briarcliff Circle, 31419

912.395.3353

ELEMENTARY (P re K–8)

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ellis Montessori Academy*

220 E. 49th St., 31405

912.395.5470

Garrison*

649 W. Jones St., 31401

912.395.5975

Georgetown (K–8)

1516 King George Blvd., 31419

912.395.3475

Godley Station (K–8)

2135 Benton Blvd., Pooler, 31407

912.395.6000

Hesse*

9116 Whitfield Ave., 31406

912.395.6440

Isle of Hope* (K–8)

100 Parkersburg Road, 31406

912.395.6555

All Savannah Chatham County Public high schools are SACS accredited. The elementary, K-8 and middle schools are accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission. *Public schools that will offer Pre-K in the 2021–22 school year **Some school names have been shortened on this chart.

Coastal Georgia 2001 Cynthia St., 31415 Comprehensive Academy

912.395.5440

Massie Heritage Center

207 E. Gordon St., 31401

912.395.5070

Oatland Island Wildlife Center*

711 Sandtown Road, 31410

912.395.1212

WINGS Elementary Program Alternative Learning

400 East Broad St., 31401

912.395.6744

JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 1

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PRIVATE SCHOOLS AGES/GRADES

TUITION*

TOTAL STUDENTS

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

ACCREDITATION/ ORGANIZATION

Advance Academy at Matthew Reardon Center for Autism 11500 Middleground Road, 31419 matthewreardon.org, 912.355.9098

5–21 years

Sliding scale

None

GAC

Advanced Academics 405 U.S. 80, Ste. 104, Pooler, 31322 adv-aca.com, 912.348.2017

PreK–5

Varies by class and full or partial day

100

None

Homeschool

Angel Learning Center 178 Basswood Drive, 31407 angellearningsavannah.com 912.228.8228

6 weeks–12 years

$10,400

Up to 325

None

Quality Rated

Benedictine Military School 6502 Seawright Drive, 31406 thebc400.com, 912.644.7000

9–12 (male)

$13,450 non–Catholic plus fees; participating Catholic discount $1,000

413

Catholic

Cognia, GISA, GHSA, NCEA, SAIS

Bethesda Academy 9520 Ferguson Ave., 31406 bethesdaacademy.org, 912.351.2068

6–12 (male, boarding

$8,000 day students $16,000 boarding students

120

Christian Nondenominational

AdvancED, NAIS, SACS, SCISA

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School 1003 E. Victory Drive, 31405 bss-savannah.org, 912.356.6987

PreK–8

$6,525 Catholic $8,550 non–Catholic

446

Catholic

AdvancED, SACS

1,062

Christian

Cognia, GAC, GHSA

SCHOOL & ADDRESS

Calvary Day School 4625 Waters Ave., 31404 calvarydayschool.com, 912.351.2299 Chatham Academy at Royce 4 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd., 31406 chathamacademy.com, 912.354.4047 Early Learning Academy 11500 Middleground Road, 31419 matthewreardon.org, 912.228.8147 The Habersham School Gould Cottage Campus: 505 E. 54th St., 31405 thehabershamschool.org, 912.509.0540 Habersham Hall Campus: 235 Habersham St. thehabershamschool.org, 912.509.0540 Hancock Day School 6600 Howard Foss Drive, 31406 hancockdayschool.org 912.351.4500 In His Arms Educational Center 7816 U.S. 80 E., 31410 inhisarmsdaycare.com, 912.897.6826 Kidzplace Child Development Center 2826 U.S. 80 W., Garden City, 31408 912.596.4886 Memorial Day School 6500 Habersham St., 31405 memorialdayschool.com 912.352.4535 Montessori Academy of Savannah Inc. 8415 Cresthill Ave., 31406 912.355.2000 Rambam Day School 111 Atlas St., 31405 rambamdayschool.org 912.352.7994

and nonboarding)

6 weeks–12

Financial aid available

Multiple-child discount

$7,900 (PreK, or $7,500 for PreK3 $9,000 (K); $9,550 (1–5); $9,950 (6–8); $10,150 (9–12)

grads);

Inquire about discounts and fees

1–12 for students with LD/ADHD

$19,049

None

Cognia, SAIS

18 months– 5 years Inclusive enrollment

Call for pricing

Up to 60

None

Quality Rated

$8,300 (PreK) $10,750 (K-5) $10,900 (6-8)

444

Christian Nondenominational

GAC, GISA, NAIS

PreK–8

$7,500 (PreK) $9,300 (K) $9,950 (1–5) $10,100 (6–8)

415

Judeo–Christian

AdvanceED, SACS, SAIS

6 weeks–12 years

$150/week (6 weeks–2 years) $135/week (2–4 years) $55/week (4–12 years)

103

Christian Nondenominational

Bright from the Start

Infant-12 years

$110-$145 weekly

PreK–12 Daycare

$7,300–$8,950

Preschool

Half– and full–day programs

PreK–12 (early dismissal K)

(Age 2–PreK)

Call for pricing

Age 2–8th grade

$4,900–$9,865 $5,135–$10,965

Christian

225

Christian Nondenominational

AdvancED, GAC, GISA

None

Pan American Montessori Certified

Jewish

SACS Quality Rated Bright from the Start

*Latest available figures. Some schools have yet to announce 2021–22 tuition rates as of press time.

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VISUAL IDENTITY GUIDELINES

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T H A N K Y O U , S AVA N N A H

Main School Logo

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

BEST PRESCHOOL

BEST DAY CARE

2019 WINNER

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

BEST DAY CARE

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Our mission at Calvary Day School is to provide a Christ-centered educational experience through the development of the total student â&#x20AC;&#x201D; spiritually, academically, socially, and physically.

C A LVA R Y D A Y S C H O O L . C O M

JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 1

125

PRIVATE SCHOOLS AGES/GRADES

TUITION*

TOTAL STUDENTS

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

ACCREDITATION/ ORGANIZATION

PreK–12

$5,850 (half–day PreK)* $10,020 (PreK, K, full day)* $12,390 (1–4); $14,785 (5–8)* $15,895 (9–10)*; $16,255 (11–12)*

510

Nonsectarian

GISA, NAIS, IB World School, SAIS, SACS

400

Catholic

AdvancED, SACS

110

Christian Nondenominational

Quality Rated 3–Star School

200

Catholic

AdvancED, SACS

Approx. 300

Catholic

AdvancED, GISA, MESA, NCEA, SACS, SAIS

1,294

Christian Nondenominational

Cognia, CESA, GISA, SAIS

$$15,400 (Junior K and K) $18,100 (1–5); $20,750 (6–12)

1,045

Nonsectarian

GISA, NAIS, SACS, SAIS

K–5

$9,000

None

Urban Christian Academy 4560 ACL Blvd., 31405, 912.234.4710

PreK–12

$3,500 (K–12)

Christian

GAC

Veritas Academy 25 W. Oglethorpe Lane, 31401 veritassavannah.org, 912.238.1222

PreK–12

$3,500 (3-day PreK)* $4,800 (5-day PreK, K)* $6,990 (1–6); $7,960 (7–12)*

200

Christian

ACCS, GAC

SCHOOL & ADDRESS

St. Andrew’s School 601 Penn Waller Road, 31410 saslions.com, 912.897.4941 St. James Catholic School 8412 Whitefield Ave., 31406 stjameschargers.com, 912.355.3132

PreK–8, EarlyLearning Center for ages 1–3 years

St. Paul’s Lutheran Preschool 10 W. 31st St., 31401 splpreschool.com, 912.234.4255

6 weeks–4 years

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School 7020 Concord Road, 31410 school.saintpetertheapostle.com 912.897.5224

PreK–8

St. Vincent’s Academy 207 E. Liberty St., 31401 svaga.net, 912.236.5508

9–12 (all girls, nonboarding)

Savannah Christian Preparatory School 1599 Chatham Parkway, 31408 savcps.com 912.234.1653

PreK–12 Daycare/ Preschool (6 weeks–4 years)

$6,626 Catholic $8,602 non–Catholic Multiple child discounts

$165/week (6 weeks–2 years) $150/week (3–4 years) $6,576 Catholic $7,913 non–Catholic Multiple child discounts

$9,540 Catholic

Reduced rate for second child

$11,539 non–Catholic

$6,540 (morning PreK, K)* $10,985 (full–day PreK, K)* $11,110 (grades 1–5)* $11,725 (grades 6–7)* $11,800 (grade 8)* $11,950 (grades 9–12)* Contact for preschool rates

Savannah Country Day School 824 Stillwood Road, 31419 savcds.org, 912.925.8800

PreK–12 (6 weeks–4 years at The Little School)

Savannah Honor Academy 5111 Abercorn St., 31405 (in JEA Community Center) savannahhonoracademy.com 773.573.7328

tuition includes lunch

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SERVICE

ADDRESS

PHONE

WEBSITE

Beyond the Bell

7002 Hodgson Memorial Drive Suite 105, 31401

912.335.8332

beyondthebellkids.org

Class 101

7702 Waters Ave., 31406

912.303.7600

myclass101.com/savannah

Deep Center

2002 Bull St., 31401

912.289.7426

deepcenter.org

Mathnasium

Locations in midtown, Pooler and the islands

912.355.5678

mathnasium.com

Parent University

2002 Bull St., 31401

912.507.8566

parentuniversitysav.org

Royce Learning Center/ Chatham Academy

4 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd., 31406

912.354.4047

roycelearningcenter.org chathamacademy.com

Savannah Educational Consultants

130 Tibet Ave., Ste. 103, 31406

912.238.9552

savannaheducationalconsultants.com

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SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

*Latest available figures. Some schools have yet to announce 2021–22 tuition rates as of press time.

Where your family is our family!

Pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapists providing quality therapy to help children reach their full potential

912.988.1526 | chatterboxpeds.com 110 Pipemakers Circle, Suite 115, Pooler | 912.988.1526 • 2453G US Highway 17, Richmond Hill | 912.445.5612

Helping to mold the future leaders of the local communities by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. • • • •

CUB SCOUTING: AGES 5-11 SCOUTS BSA: AGES 10-18 VENTURING: AGES 14-20 SEA SCOUTS: AGES 14-20

11900 ABERCORN STREET SAVANNAH, GA 31419 912.927.7272 COASTALGEORGIABSA.ORG

JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 1

127

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SCHOOL

ADDRESS

PHONE

TUITION**

ENROLLMENT

176 Dermis Ave., Hardeeville, S.C., 29927

843.784.3376

Contact for pricing

Varies

Columbia College of Missouri — Hunter Army Airfield ccis.edu/hunter

P.O. Box 42119 Hunter AAF, 31409

912.352.863

$375/hour $250/hour for military

1,200

Empire Beauty School empire.edu

7400 Abercorn St. Ste. 901, 31406

912.447.3330

Contact for pricing

1332 Southern Dr., Statesboro, 30458 11935 Abercorn St., Savannah, 31419 175 W. Memorial Dr., Hinesville, 31313

912.478.4636

Contact for pricing

26,000+

210 Technology Circle, 31407

912.966.7922

Contact for pricing

Varies

3300 W. Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona, 85017

912.532.6194

$16,500/year/onsite $350-$690/credit hour (online)

90,000 campus 20,000 online

5356 Reynolds St. Ste. 203, 31405

706.721.3186

Contact for pricing

Varies

Contact for pricing

220

$9,050/semester full-time $250/credit hour for dual enrollment

700 Savannah campus

Advanced Aesthetics Academy theadvancedaestheticsacademy.com

Georgia Southern University* georgiasouthern.edu Statesboro campus: 912.478.4636 Armstrong campus: 912.344.2576 Liberty campus: 912.877.1906 Georgia Tech Professional Education — Savannah* pe.gatech.edu Grand Canyon University gcu.edu/c/quineshia.peterson Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Southeast Regional Campus augusta.edu/mcg/expansion/southeast Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah Campus medicine.mercer.edu Point University* point.edu/savannah Ralston College ralston.ac Saint Leo University at Savannah* saintleo.edu

1250 E. 66th St.

55 Al Henderson Blvd., 31419

912.721.8220

912.629.3855

P.O. Box 8302, 31412

Including all fees and books

Option for military rate

Contact for pricing

325 W. Montgomery Cross Road 31406

912.352.8331

$360/credit hour $250/credit hour for active military

870

P.O. Box 2072, 31402

912.525.5100 800.869.7223

$37,575/undergrad $38,475/grad (per academic year)

15,568

3219 College St., 31404

912.358.4338

$2,540/in-state/semester $9,241/out-of-state/semester

4,100

5717 White Bluff Road, 31405

912.443.5700 800.769.6362

In-state: $100/credit hour (plus fees) Out-of-state: $200/credit hour (plus fees)

4,600+

709 Mall Blvd., 31406

912.201.8000 866.629.2901

$5,555/quarter for most programs

1,100 campus 9,800 online

33 S. Commercial St. Manchester, N.H., 03101

888.672.1458

snhu.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid/online

100,000+

20 Martin Court, 31419

912.921.2900

Contact for pricing

Varies

7395 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Ste. 100, 31406

706.210.2800

$250/credit hour/onsite (undergrad) $338/credit hour/online (undergrad) $330/credit hour/onsite (grad) $494/credit hour/online (grad)

600 campus 6,000 online

University of South of Oceanography skio.uga.edu

10 Ocean Science Circle, 31411

912.598.2400

Marine science research facility; educational mission fulfilled through University of Georgia

University of South Carolina Beaufort uscb.edu

1 University Blvd., Bluffton, S.C., 29909 801 Carteret St., Beaufort, S.C., 29902 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 29928

843.208.8000

(Chatham, Effingham and Bryan counties qualify as in-state)

Webster University webster.edu/georgia

P.O. Box 42029 Hunter AAF, 31409 P.O. Box 3209 Fort Stewart, 31315

912.354.0033 912.876.8080

Savannah College of Art and Design* scad.edu Savannah State University* savannahstate.edu Savannah Technical College* savannahtech.edu South University* southuniversity.edu Southern New Hampshire University snhu.edu Strayer University strayer.edu/campus/savannah Troy University* savannah.troy.edu

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$5,172/in-state/semester

2,100+

$10,695/out-of-state/semester Civilian undergrad: $670/hour (in class), $685/hour (online); Civilian grad: $575/hour (in class), $780/hour (online); $780/hour (online); Military grad: $350/hour (in class), $470/hour (online)

90 Hunter 125 Fort Stewart (Varies by term)

*Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

**Latest available figures. Some schools have yet to announce 2021–22 tuition rates as of press time.

SAVANNAHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LO CA L R A DIO STATION

2020 WINNER

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JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 1

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l a u t r i v

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With 28 contestants from around the world singing over 15 genres of music, this event is not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now!

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TA S T E SEEN S A V A N N A H

Plant Riverside District’s Christmas Market Kid’s Corner Photography by PAUL MEACHUM

NOV. 27–28 Children (and parents) enjoyed a festive fête at Plant Riverside District’s Christmas Market. The just-for-kids programming included gingerbread houses and twinkling lights — even Old Saint Nick made an appearance.

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

131

SEEN

PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT’S CHRISTMAS MARKET KID’S CORNER

Hallie, Lauren and Bentley Reese

Jose, Isaac and Lili Berenes La Roche

Lisa Tucker, Cora, Tripp Huffman, Hailey and Kyle Cowart

Angela and Michael Cruse

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SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

Beau, Johnny and Davis Tolland

Photography by PAUL MEACHUM

SEEN

Downtown Design District Holiday Walk DEC. 10 Shops like Custard Boutique, PW Short, The Printed Peach and many more opened their doors for the Downtown Design District’s annual holiday walk, brimming with fresh air and fun ﬁnds.

Emily Dover, Kati Ann Wright and Betsy Douglas

Carol Chalmers, Sandy Seyferth and Susan Kingery

Scot Hinson

Brynn Howard

Photography by ARRA RIGGS

Hannah Lewis, Terry Lewis and Gaston Crue Conley

Meghan Curran and Michele Mikulec

JA N UA R Y/ F EB R UA R Y 2 0 21

133

SEEN

Hostess Provisions Presents: Make Savannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 Holiday Fair

Scarlett Mason, Abigail Tankersley and Caitlin Hillard from Blend & Press Wellness Bar

NOV. 14 Makers and shoppers alike gathered to cross off their holiday shopping lists early, all while supporting Savannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small businesses. Gail Staiszewski and Kim Escobar from Peppermango

Claude Galipeau and Charlene Dimond from True Earth Farmacy

Abi Kingaby from Lady Jane

Erica Cannon from Wheelie Good Treats

Hostess Provisions

Emerald Arguelles and Sydney Gillum from Aint-Bad Studio

Trellis Payne

Erica Kelly from Copperseal

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SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM

Photography by PAUL MEACHUM

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Dr. Elizabeth Miller with her dog Marley

Family Ties Written by FEIFEI SUN

SAVANNAH WASN’T THE CITY Dr. Elizabeth Miller envisioned calling home when she was growing up in upstate New York. Nor when she was studying psychology at Rollins College, in Orlando, Florida, which Miller attended on a golf scholarship. And not even when she was completing her ophthalmology residency in Philadelphia. But when a friend from residency called

136

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her nearly 25 years ago to join him in starting Georgia Eye Institute, she embraced the professional opportunity — and landed in a city that’s been the backdrop to some of her greatest personal adventures, too, from raising her two daughters, Jenny and Betsy, to serving as a board member of the Humane Society for Greater Savannah. “I love calling Savannah home because it’s incredibly diverse,” Miller says. “It has

the charm of a small town, but it also has everything you can find in larger cities, like great restaurants, vibrant tourism and even a growing film industry. I love that I can walk the streets and find everything I like.” The chance to wander through Savannah’s streets and green spaces has been especially meaningful over the last year, given lockdowns as a result of COVID-19. In fact, one of Miller’s favorite ways to spend her mornings is to take her three pups, Bailey, Marley and Lincoln, to the dog park at The Landings, where she lives in the same home that she and her family first moved into back in the 1990s. Miller — a self-professed “huge animal lover” who ran 60 miles on her 60th birthday (and 50 on her 50th) to raise money for the Humane Society — has at times thought about moving from that home. “But the memories of the girls running around and growing up in the house are just so special,” she says. In 2017, her older daughter, Jenny, took over Miller’s practice at Georgia Eye Institute. Miller has also enjoyed watching Jenny embrace the experience of parenting a teenager (one of Miller’s six grandchildren). “I kind of smile to myself — it’s like, oh, I remember how that used to go,” she says with a laugh. Younger daughter Betsy owns Von Trapp Animal Lodge, which will forever hold a special place in Miller’s heart — and not only because her daughter runs it: Shortly after her husband passed away three years ago, Miller visited the lodge under the impression that she needed to sign some paperwork for her daughter and son-in-law. She arrived to find a black Lab puppy in his bed. Betsy and her husband had named him Lincoln, after the stadium where the Philadelphia Eagles play, a nod to her late husband’s favorite team. “It was just the nicest thing they did for me,” Miller recalls, “and a beautiful reminder that family is truly the most important thing.”

Photography by KATIE M C GEE

GPA VALUES OPPORTUNITY SAFETY

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